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Lensmark

Your AI tour guide for Te Papa

Photograph a work in Te Papa and Lensmark tells you who made it, when, and why it matters, with every fact linked to its source.

Your tour guide, today

Week Pass $5.99 USD Seven days, 50 identifications. One payment, and it does not renew. A Lensmark account is required to complete checkout. Lensmark's Week Pass is separate from Te Papa admission and museum services. Download on the App Store

Te Papa

Wellington, New Zealand

Lensmark is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Te Papa.

Privacy

Take a photo and read the work's sourced story

Illustrative photo demo

Illustrative collection

  1. Take a permitted photo Use a photo allowed by the museum's current rules.
  2. Read the sourced history When Lensmark can verify the work, it explains what the sources support and links to them. When it cannot, it says so plainly.
  3. Ask a follow-up Continue with a question about the work's maker, age or significance.
  4. Your Te Papa walk saves itself. Just take pictures. Each work is kept with its sourced history, grouped by day.

The illustrative demo shows Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam in Vatican City. The demo and collection images illustrate Lensmark and are not Te Papa collection works.

What the Te Papa collection covers

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa was established under the 1992 Act that united the National Museum and National Art Gallery. Its Cable Street building in Wellington opened on 14 February 1998. History

Te Papa brings New Zealand art together with taonga Māori, Pacific cultures, photography and natural history. Its art holdings include painting, sculpture, prints, drawings, decorative arts and textiles.

Its collection strengths include New Zealand art, Taonga Māori, Pacific cultures, and Photography.

  • Northland panels

    Colin McCahon

    Date
    1958

    McCahon painted Northland panels in Auckland in 1958. Made with house paint on canvas, the work entered the collection in 1978 with Ellen Eames Collection funds and assistance from the New Zealand Lottery Board.

    Read the museum record

  • Mountains, Cass

    Rita Angus

    Date
    1936

    Rita Angus made this Canterbury landscape in 1936 using watercolour and black chalk. Purchased in 1977 with Mary Buick Bequest funds, this work on paper is distinct from her oil painting Cass in Christchurch.

    Read the museum record

  • Koru, 1, 2, 3

    Colin McCahon

    Date
    1965

    McCahon gave numerals the spiral forms of the koru in this 1965 painting. Te Papa connects the three-part work with the Christian Trinity and records its purchase in 2011.

    Read the museum record

These are collection records, not confirmation that the works are on display today.

Check the photography rules first

Te Papa permits personal, non-commercial photos and video without flash, subject to object and exhibition signs; Te Hau ki Tūranga cannot be photographed, and people require their permission. Its code prohibits setting up tripods or camera extension poles, while its photography section permits selfie sticks and requires permission for tripods, monopods and lighting; ask staff before using equipment. Commercial use requires permission. Read its current visitor conditions and follow gallery signs before taking a photo. Te Papa photography policy

Lensmark needs a connection to answer, so check your signal or any visitor Wi-Fi before you photograph a work.

Lensmark can explain Te Papa works. Let us be your AI tour guide today.

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