Ours: Treasures from Te Papa

Ours: Treasures from Te Papa

Noelle McCarthy and 20 taonga from Te Papa that have helped shape our nation's identity

Episodes

Jody Wyllie and Te Hau ki Tūranga

June 25, 2018 • 6 mins
Our last taonga is not just an object, but a sacred place, and an "encyclopedia" of the history, traditions and art and culture of the people of Rongowhakaata.
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Ours: Lady Pippa Blake and NZL32

June 18, 2018 • 7 mins
This is a story about one of the most magical victories in New Zealand's sporting history, and the inspiring legacy that it has left in its wake.
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Ema Tavola and the Isa Lei song

June 11, 2018 • 5 mins
This is one of the most well-loved songs of the Pacific and its beautiful, wistful quality still endures - 100 years on from its debut.
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The Topp Twins and the dolls

June 4, 2018 • 6 mins
These knitted creations are a Topp tribute to the beloved alter-egos of New Zealand's most famous folk-singing/yodelling/comedy duo.
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Pauline Cowens and the Snell Shoe

May 28, 2018 • 8 mins
This spiky item helped a relatively unknown New Zealand athlete seize gold, and instant fame, at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
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Ngila Dickson and the Xena costume

May 21, 2018 • 6 mins
What happens when Greek mythology meets modern pop culture feminism, with a bit of Kiwi battler thrown in?
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Googie Tapsell and the Patu Parāoa

May 14, 2018 • 8 mins
This patu parāoa (whalebone hand weapon) used during the New Zealand Wars offers a window or "little cobweb” into New Zealand’s past.
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Leah McFall and the Suffragette medal

May 7, 2018 • 7 mins
This little object is so small it could fit in your pocket, yet it's a powerful symbol of one woman's courage and activism in very difficult conditions.
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Jamie Tuuta and the Strutt Painting

May 1, 2018 • 6 mins
William Strutt's painted depiction of the New Zealand Wars may be almost 160 years old but, amid recent claims of racism and propaganda, it’s making headlines in 2018.
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Sir Richard Taylor and the wētā

April 23, 2018 • 6 mins
This nocturnal creature doesn't have the prettiest mugshot and can appear a little intimidating with its tusks, barbs, and armour.
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Elisapeta Fononga and the fish shop uniform

April 17, 2018 • 6 mins
The story of a nation is more than great works of art, turbulent moments of history and dramatic discoveries. Sometimes you can see the truth of a country in a piece of fish with a scoop of chips.
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Eric London and the first ever dinosaur tooth

April 9, 2018 • 5 mins
It looks like a bit of wood, but it tells a much bigger story of immigration and inspiration. A story as big as a dinosaur.
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Anthony Byrt and Colin McCahon's 'I am scared'

April 2, 2018 • 7 mins
I am scared is about feeling the fear and doing it anyway. It's a universal theme, but its depiction by this great New Zealand artist could only have been painted here.
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Sam and the colossal squid

March 26, 2018 • 4 mins
What has the biggest eyes in the world, blue blood and three hearts? Sam Cousins knows and it's a bit of natural science that connects us to the oceans surrounding us.
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Theresa Healey and the Play School toys

March 19, 2018 • 5 mins
In the 1970s New Zealand started to find its own voice through mass media, and that included imported children's television. Ready to knock? Turn the lock.
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Mike Bush and John Minto's Springbok Tour helmet

March 11, 2018 • 7 mins
The '81 Springbok Tour woke and divided New Zealand, but this week's object and its champion are a surprising combination that shows just how far we've come.
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Jeremy Wells and a Kākāpō ejaculation helmet

March 5, 2018 • 6 mins
Before humans, New Zealand was a land of birds. Our recent efforts to save them have sparked some heroic stories... but also some, er, quirky ones. Such as the kakapo ejaculation helmet.
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Julian Wilcox and Jonah Lomu's PlayStation video game

February 26, 2018 • 7 mins
Jonah Lomu steamrolled Mike Catt and, as former TV host Julian Wilcox recalls, changed the game of rugby forever. But this treasure about much more than sport.  
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Jacinda Ardern and Ernest Shackleton's sled

February 19, 2018 • 7 mins
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has a favourite item at Te Papa and in episode two, we discover that while it speaks to her of endurance, it's probably not what you might expected. 
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Ours: Dame Anne Salmond and the silver fern

February 12, 2018 • 6 mins
The first object comes from the moment of 'first contact'. Historian Dame Anne Salmond talks about the silver ferns collected by the Endeavour and how New Zealand was born in science.
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