Tales From Te Papa is a television series of mini-documentaries about objects from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa) and the activities of the Museum staff. The series is a partnership between Television New Zealand and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The series was commissioned by Television New Zealand for TVNZ6, a digital channel and New Zealand's first fully public service broadcasting channel without advertising breaks. Each episode runs for 5 to 8 minutes and shows on rotation in what would be the advertising break between programmes. Since TVNZ6 changed format to TVNZU on 1 March 2011 the series was moved to TVNZ7 and now available on You Tube.
The series was made by the Gibson Group and each episode produced by Gary Scott and hosted by either Simon Morton or Riria Hotere. A host interviews subject experts about a particular object or the behind-the-scenes work the Museum does.
Series 2009 Episodes 1 – 50
Episode Number Title and link to episode on YouTube Origin Object Date Description Te Papa's Collections online link Host and additional contributors 1 Cloud by John Reynolds New Zealand 2006 An artwork made up of over 7,000 separate canvases of New Zealand English by John Reynolds Cloud by John Reynolds Simon Morton & Charlotte Huddleston, Curator 2 Hei Tiki New Zealand Unknown Jade Pedant (Hei-tiki) belonging to Guide Sophia Hei tiki Simon Morton & Dr Huhana Smith, Senior Curator 3 Kahu Kuri New Zealand 1500–1800 Polynesian Dog skin cloaks worn by Māori Cloak and Taxidermied Polynesian Dog (Kurī) Simon Morton & Awhina Tamarapa, Curator 4 Rugby Ball and John Minto New Zealand 1956 and 1981 Rugby History in New Zealand – The rugby ball from the All Blacks Series win against the Springboks in 1956 and a helmet of John Minto, protester of the Springbok Tour 1981 Rugby Ball and John Minto's Helmet Simon Morton & Kirstie Ross, Curator 5 Albatross New Zealand 1880s to present Biggest collection of Albatross birds in the world Albatross specimens Simon Morton & Sandy Bartle, Curator 6 Beaked Whales New Zealand waters 1874 to present Largest collection of Beaked whale skeletons in the world and the Spade toothed whale Beaked Whale Specimens Simon Morton & Anton van Helden, Collection Manager 7 Giant Ammonite New Zealand Jurassic Biggest Shellfish ever found in New Zealand (fossil or alive) Not found in Collections Online Riria Hotere & Dr Hamish Campbell, Geologist, GNS Science 8 Puffer Fish Helmet Kiribiti 1800s Armour and weapons from Kiribati Puffer Fish Helmet and model Kiribati Warrior and Sting ray belt and Hand weapon (Rere) and Amour Riria Hotere & Sean Mallon, Senior Curator 9 Fijian War Clubs Fiji 1880s Lots of war clubs from Fiji Fijian War Clubs Model of Fijian Warrior Riria Hotere & Sean Mallon, Senior Curator 10 Angel of the Annunciation by Colin McCahon New Zealand 1947 One of New Zealand's greatest artists – Colin McCahon and his early works Angel of the Annunciation and King of the Jews and Entombment: after Titian and Christ taken from the Cross and The valley of dry bones Riria Hotere & William McAloon, Curator 11 Castaway Clothes Sub-Antarctic Islands 1880s-1900s Castaway depots on Sub-Antarctic Islands Tin of Ships Biscuits and Castaway three piece suit and Box containing men's boots and Castaway's Trousers Riria Hotere & Michael Fitzgerald, Curator 12 Iguanodon Tooth Great Britain 1820 The first fossil to be recognised as from a dinosaur Fossil Iguanodon Tooth and The country of the Iguanodon by John Martin Riria Hotere & Dr Hamish Campbell, Geologist, GNS Science 13 Synotaxid spiders New Zealand Present Thousands of Spiders waiting to be discovered in New Zealand Synotaxid Spiders Riria Hotere & Phil Sirvid, Collection Manager 14 Egyptian Mummy Egypt circa 300 BC Egyptian Mummy and Sarcophagus – Mehit-em-Wesekht Mummy and Sarcophagus of Mehit-em-Wesekht Riria Hotere & Ross O'Rourke, Collection Manager 15 Pisupo Lua Afe (Corned Beef 2000) by Michel Tuffery New Zealand 1994 Sculpture made of corned beef tins by Michel Tuffery Pisupo Lau Afe (Corned Beef 2000) Riria Hotere & Sean Mallon, Senior Curator 16 Poi Awe New Zealand 1800s The only Poi awe in Te Papa's collection The Poi Awe Riria Hotere & Awhina Tamarapa, Curator 17 Feather signatures New Zealand Present Research into the making of Māori feather cloaks Feathered cloak Riria Hotere & Hokimate Harwood, Bicultural Researcher 18 Waka Whakairo from Paris New Zealand 1800–1900 Carving purchased at a Paris auction in 2008 Waka whakairo Riria Hotere & Matiu Baker, Curator 19 Lisa Reihana New Zealand 2009 Te Ara a Hine – The pathway of women featuring the artwork Mai i te aroha, ko te aroha by Lisa Reihana Work by Lisa Reihana in Te Papa's Collection Riria Hotere & Megan Tamati-Quennell, Curator 20 Jewellery by Jane Dodd New Zealand 2006 Three Little Pigs jewellery by Jane Dodd Work by Jane Dodd in Te Papa's Collection Riria Hotere & Justine Olsen, Curator 21 Glass plate negatives taken by James Bragge New Zealand 1870s – 1880s Glass plate negatives by James Bragge Work by James Bragge in Te Papa's Collection and Five Mile Avenue, Forty Mile Bush by James Bragge Riria Hotere & Athol McCredie, Curator 22 Land Girls, Overalls and Killing Knife New Zealand 1941–1945 The New Zealand Women's Land Service & the home front Overalls and Killing knife Riria Hotere & Stephanie Gibson, Curator 23 Bathing costumes New Zealand 1902–1912 Beach Fashion – The Swimsuit Bathing costume, 1912 and "The sea hath its pearls": 'Boxing Day at Hokio, 26 December 1918'. From the album: Family photograph album, by Leslie Adkin and Bathing Costume and medal belonging to Noel Crump Riria Hotere & Kirstie Ross, Curator 24 Ta Moko Panel New Zealand 1896 Carved panel by Tene Waitere Ta Moko Panel Riria Hotere & Arapata Hakiwai, Curator & James Schuster, Descendent 25 Dental Nurse Equipment New Zealand 1940s Dentistry in New Zealand and Dental nurses Dental equipment from the Wellington Dental Nursing School Simon Morton & Kirstie Ross, Curator 26 Sextant Motuihe Island, New Zealand 1916 Sextant made from scratch by a German Prisoner of War during World War One used by Count von Luckner Sextant used by Count von Luckner during his escape attempt from Motuihe Island Simon Morton & Michael Fitzgerald, Curator 27 Te Papa's Fish Collection labs New Zealand 2009 A giant morgue and an autopsy room for fish, sharks and sea creatures Fish specimens in Collections Online Simon Morton & Andrew Stewart, Collection Manager 28 Replica Crown Jewels New Zealand 1940 Replica Crown Jewels and the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition 1940 Items relating to the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition 1940 Simon Morton & Dean Miller, Museum of Wellington City & Sea & Kirstie Ross, Curator 29 Henry Fanshaw Bear New Zealand 1939–1945 The Royal New Zealand Airforce – enlisting men and a Teddy bear War posters in Te Papa's Collection Simon Morton & Stephanie Gibson, Curator & Steve Moore, Air Commodore 30 Samoan Cricket Bats Samoa 1936 – 1990s Kilikiti- Cricket Samoan Style Samoan Cricket bats Simon Morton & Safua Akeli, Curator 31 Society Islands Chief Mourners Costume Society Islands 1770s A frightening outfit made from precious pearl and black shell from the Society Islands Chief Mourners Costume Simon Morton & Grace Hutton, Collection Manager 32 NZ Company Flag New Zealand 1839 First flag to be raised at Wellington, New Zealand – The New Zealand Company flag New Zealand Company flag Riria Hotere & Michael Fitzgerald, Curator 33 The pataka Te Takinga New Zealand 1850s The pataka Te Takinga Not Found in Collections Online Riria Hotere & Awhina Tamarapa, Curator & Sam Jackson, Kaumatua Ngati Pikiao, Taranaki 34 Banks and Solander Collection New Zealand 1770s The earliest specimens of New Zealand flora collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander The Banks and Solander botanical specimens collection Riria Hotere & Dr Patrick Brownsey, Senior Curator 35 Scottish Samplers Scotland 1880s Learning a range of stitching by creating sewing samplers Sampler by Jeanie Lawson and Sampler by Agnes Lawson and Sampler by Agnes Lawson Simon Morton & Stephanie Gibson, Curator 36 Play School Toys New Zealand 1970s Toys from the popular children's television programme Play School Big Ted and Jemima and Manu and Humpty and Play School doll's clothes Riria Hotere & Kirstie Ross, Curator 37 Phar Lap's Skeleton New Zealand 1932 Famous Australasian racehorse Phar Lap's Skeleton Skeleton of Phar Lap Simon Morton & Chris Paulin, Phar Lap Researcher 38 Tapa Cloth Pacific Various Tapa cloth and fashion Tiputa (Poncho) and Wedding costume by Paula Chan-Cheuk Riria Hotere & Safua Akeli, Curator & Jakki Leota-Ete 39 Vita Dress New Zealand 2000 Women's handcrafts and fashion combine in a stunning dress by Marilyn Sainty and Vita Cochran. 'Vita' dress by Marilyn Sainty and Vita Cochran and 'Zip Bag' by Vita Cochran Simon Morton & Angela Lassig, Senior Curator 40 Mary-Annette Hay New Zealand 1960s Mary-Annette Hay – Queen of Wool Items in Te Papa's collection associated with Mary-Annette Hay Simon Morton & Angela Lassig, Senior Curator 41 Extended Depth of Field Photography New Zealand 2009 High Tech photography known as Focus stacking of tiny natural history specimens Photographs of spiders taken using extended depth of field photography technique Simon Morton & Jean-Claude Stahl, Researcher 42 Deep sea fishes New Zealand Territorial Waters 20th Century Bizarre Deep Sea Fishes Te Papa's Fish Collection Simon Morton & Andrew Stewart, Collection Manager 43 Conservation of Samurai Armour Japan 1735 Conservation Treatment of Samurai Armour – A two-year job Samurai armour (Sendai-do no Gusoku) made by Muneyoshi of the House of Myouchin Simon Morton & Rose Evans, Conservator 44 Ceramics by Ann Verdcourt New Zealand 1991 Ceramics by Ann Verdcourt inspired by the voyage of Christopher Columbus and commissioned for Expo 92 Series one: Columbus plans his first voyage, sailing against the wind and Series two: The trials and tribulations of the first voyage and Series three: A new land, its perils, its wonder Riria Hotere & Justine Olsen, Curator 45 Tatua New Zealand 2007-08 Tatua (Maori belts) made by Matthew McIntyre-Wilson Tatua (Maori belts) Riria Hotere & Dr Huhana Smith, Senior Curator 46 Child's Wrap Wairarapa circa 1875 Child's Cloak made by Eterina Hokokakahu Aperahama Not Found in Collections Online Riria Hotere & Matiu Baker, Curator & Warren Wright, Descendant 47 A Loss, Again – a temporary sculpture installation at Te Papa New Zealand 2009 Temporary sculpture by artist Ronnie van Hout Other works by Ronnie van Hout in Te Papa's collection Riria Hotere & Charlotte Huddleston, Curator 48 Tuvalu Clothes Tuvalu circa 1900 Missionary style clothes made from local materials in Tuvalu Man's Jacket and Man's Hat and Woman's Dress Riria Hotere & Sean Mallon, Senior Curator 49 Harata Rewiri Tarapata New Zealand 1903-04 C.F.Goldie's paintings of Harata Rewiri Tarapata Items related to Harata Rewiri Tarapata in Te Papa's collection Riria Hotere & Scott Pothan, Whangarei Art Museum 50 Von Tempsky New Zealand 1860s Gustavus Ferdinand Von Tempsky – adventurer, artist and soldier Items related to Von Tempsky in Te Papa's collection Simon Morton & Crystal Mann, Waikato Museum
Series 2010 Episodes 51 – 100