Te Papa

Long-time readers may remember that I’ve posted on Te Papa before.The main reason we visited this time was so Mary Anne and Miriam could see the traveling exhibition on the designer Vivienne Westwood. Meanwhile, Richard and I focused on guy stuff: war and a motorcycle.

It’s hard to photograph the interior of a large building. Here are a couple of mediocre shots that I hope will give you a feeling for the place.

First stop: the excellent exhibit on the horrors of Gallipoli by Wellingtonian Peter Jackson. Gallipoli is a sore subject for many in New Zealand and Australia because it’s felt that the British sacrificed their troops in an impossible campaign against the Turks. I don’t have a position in this. But I know that it wouldn’t have been the first time Britain used colonials as cannon fodder.

The huge figures are quite moving and are based on the stories of actual people. There’s a lot of additional material along the walls.

Lieutenant Spencer Westmacott
Maori Contingent machine-gun section
Jack Dunn was sentenced to death after he fell asleep at his post. I’m surprised they all weren’t considering the exhausting conditions. He was later reprieved.
Lieutenant Colonel Percival Fenwick
Sergeant Cecil Malthus
Staff Nurse Lottie Le Gallars

impressed and depressed by the Gallipoli exhibit, we moved on for a bit of Māori warfare, Polynesian culture and an exceptional Kiwi motorcycle.

I can’t imagine that anyone got up after being whacked in the head by that pointy thing.
Pop quiz. A. A Ku Klux Klan hood, B. the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, C. Part of a native Cook Islands costume.

The masterpiece of John Britten, a talented Kiwi engineer who died young of cancer.


That’s the end of this brief visit to Te Papa. There’s lots more to see. Be sure to visit if you find yourself in Wellington. Especially if it’s raining. Which it will be.

2 thoughts on “Te Papa”
  1. Hi Maryanne and Steve, Thank you or your impressions from the “Kiwis”. They will help us, preparing a Journey next year to down under! Greetings from Berlin Siegfried

  2. Dear MAB and Steve! Thanks for the ‘down to basics’ down-under tours! This one was interesting and moving!
    Love, MEB

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