All books A–Z

See our list of titles currently in print, revisit our past titles, and download our full catalogue or you can view it online.

100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa

As part of the First World War I Centenary (2014–18), Te Papa has taken on the task of identifying these men and the people photographed with them. We want to discover what happened to them, and how their lives and the lives of their descendants were affected by the war.

100 Natural History Treasures of Te Papa

An insider’s guide to the natural treasures of New Zealand’s national museum.

Badges of Aotearoa New Zealand Poster

Based on collections featured in the book ‘Tiny Statements: A Social History of Aotearoa New Zealand in Badges’, this beautiful, decorative poster of a century’s worth of badge designs.

The Beach Activity Book: 99 Ideas for Activities by the Water around Aotearoa New Zealand

An engaging activity book for young New Zealanders and their families.

Brian Brake: Lens on the World

The complete life and work of Brian Brake, New Zealand’s best-known photographer, has at last been encapsulated in one stunning book.

Buller’s Birds of New Zealand: The Complete Work of JG Keulemans (New Edition)

New Zealand's best-loved birds come alive in luminous colour in Buller’s Birds of New Zealand: The Complete Work of JG Keulemans.

Buller’s Birds of New Zealand Poster

This magnificent illustration from the 1900s, entitled Native Birds of New Zealand by William Shaw Diedrich Schmidt, has been lovingly reproduced by Te Papa Press to accompany Buller’s Birds of New Zealand: The Complete Work of JG Keulemans.

The Cook Voyages Encounters: The Cook Voyages Collections of Te Papa

A comprehensive guide to the objects associated with the voyages of James Cook held at New Zealand's National Museum

Crafting Aotearoa: A Cultural History of Making in New Zealand and the Wider Moana Oceania

A landmark publication that takes another look at craft and its broader cultural role.

Dear Colin, Dear Ron: The Selected Letters of Colin McCahon and Ron O’Reilly

A long friendship in art and ideas through letters.

Dogs in Early New Zealand Photographs

Adorable and sometimes surprising historic images of New Zealand dogs and their owners.

Dressed: Fashionable dress in Aotearoa New Zealand 1840 to 1910

When crinolines, bustles and ostrich feathers were the height of colonial fashion – from ball gowns and riding habits to tea gowns and dresses worn for presentation to Queen Victoria.

The Essential Audrey Eagle: Botanical Art of New Zealand

The Essential Audrey Eagle: Botanical Art of New Zealand offers botanists, gardeners, and art lovers Audrey Eagle’s exquisite botanical artworks – in a compact, portable format.

The Fishes of New Zealand Poster

Reminiscent of the iconic fish 'n' chip shop poster, this poster from Te Papa Press features a selection of 222 fishes from the landmark 4-volume publication The Fishes of New Zealand.

Flora: Celebrating Our Botanical World

The magnificent plant world of Aotearoa New Zealand in art and object.

A giant man is kneeling and a life-size girl is looking up at his face

Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War

The story of a defining campaign and a monumental exhibition.

Going to Te Papa | Asiasiga ‘i le Falemata‘aga i Te Papa

An appealing board book that develops Samoan language and cultural knowledge.

Hei Taonga mā ngā Uri Whakatipu | Treasures for the Rising Generation: The Dominion Museum Ethnological Expeditions 1919–1923

A landmark book about four remarkable museum expeditions that contributed to a recovery of Māori society

Te Hei Tiki: An Enduring Treasure in a Cultural Continuum

Of all Māori personal adornments, the human figure pendants known as hei tiki are the most famous, highly prized and culturally iconic. This book celebrates the long history of hei tiki and the enduring cultural potency of these taonga.

He Paki Taonga i a Māui_David Brechin-Smith

He Paki Taonga i a Māui: He Putanga Kōrero Mai i Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa

Join Māui as he shares stories for tamariki based on taonga from the Te Papa collection

A white rectangle with a book cover in the centre which is a picture of the head and shoulders of a man in the Pacific

Lāuga: Understanding Samoan oratory

Lāuga or Sāmoan oratory is a premier cultural practice in the fa‘asāmoa (Sāmoan culture), a sacred ritual that embodies all that fa‘asāmoa represents, such as identity, inheritance, respect, service, gifting, reciprocity and knowledge.

Lost Gold: Ornithology of the subantarctic Auckland Islands

The first ever book about the birds of this subantarctic island group

Lost in the Museum

An exciting, beautifully illustrated book set in the world of museum treasures.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Souvenir Guide

Haere mai and welcome to Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum.

Museums and Māori: Heritage Professionals, Indigenous Collections, Current Practice

This ground-breaking book explores the revolution that’s transformed New Zealand museums in recent decades, and is influencing how museums worldwide care for indigenous objects.

Mangō: Sharks and Rays of Aotearoa

The fascinating lives of Aotearoa New Zealand’s sharks and rays.

My Little Book of Bugs

An appealing board book that helps young readers learn about bugs

The Nature Activity Book: 99 Ideas for Activities in the Natural World of Aotearoa New Zealand

From experiments and observation to conservation and mindfulness, this activity-packed book stimulates curious minds. It encourages children to relate to the natural world and develop budding research skills.

Nature — Stilled

Stunning photographs of remarkable natural history specimens from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The New Zealand Art Activity Book (New Edition)

100+ art activities based on the collection of Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum and gallery

New Zealand Art at Te Papa

A survey of Te Papa’s treasure trove of New Zealand art

New Zealand Seaweeds: An Illustrated Guide

The definitive and expert guide to the seaweeds of New Zealand’s coastal waters

Book cover of a stairs in a tunnel made of clay.

Ngā Kaihanga Uku: Māori Clay Artists

A celebration of the revival and mana of Māori ceramic art.

Ngā Tai Whakarongorua | Encounters

Accessible, informative guide to one of Te Papa’s most popular permanent art exhibitions

Peter McLeavey: The life and times of a New Zealand art dealer

From Montana award-winning author Jill Trevelyan comes the first biography of Peter McLeavey, the charismatic, pioneering art dealer who since the 1960s has shaped – even transformed – New Zealand art.

Prehistoric Man in Palliser Bay

Encountering 1,000 years of life in Palliser Bay

Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance

An illustrated history of protest and activism in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Railways Studios: How a Government Design Studio Helped Build New Zealand

A definitive illustrated history of the graphic work of the railways studios.

Real Modern: Everyday New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s

Real Modern tells a vibrant and varied story of real life in this compelling era through images and, above all, objects.

Rita Angus: An Artist’s Life

Rita Angus: An Artist's Life is the first biography of this significant and much-loved New Zealand artist

Robin White: Something is Happening Here

Major survey of the 50-year career of one of New Zealand’s best-loved artists, Robin White.

Scenic Playground: The Story Behind New Zealand's Mountain Tourism

A magnificent illustrated history of New Zealand's mountain tourism industry

Tangata o le Moana: New Zealand and the People of the Pacific

Discover a millennium of exploration, encounter, and cultural exchange in this beautifully illustrated history of Pacific peoples in New Zealand.

Tatau: Sāmoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture

The story of Sāmoan tattoo art and the work of Su‘a Sulu‘ape Paulo II.

Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing

A beautifully designed and richly illustrated retelling of the unique and powerful history of Sāmoan tattooing, from 3,000 years ago to modern practices.

Te Ata o Tū The Shadow of Tūmatauenga: The New Zealand Wars Collections of Te Papa

Accessible, important guide to the taonga relating to the New Zealand wars held by Te Papa.

Ten x Ten: Art at Te Papa

One hundred of the best-loved works in the national art collection at Te Papa

Book cover with white space either side.

The Te Papa Activity Book

Fun activities about Te Papa Tongarewa and the taonga (treasures) we hold.

A book cover with a lot of stylised birds on it

Te Papa Te Taiao Nature Series: Native Birds of Aotearoa

A handy introduction to the unique birdlife of Aotearoa New Zealand, for the backyard, bach, and backpack.

Book cover for Native Insects of Aotearoa

Te Papa Te Taiao Nature Series: Native Insects of Aotearoa

A handy introduction to the unique insects of Aotearoa New Zealand, for the backyard, bach and backpack.

Te Papa Te Taiao Nature Series: Native Plants of Aotearoa

A handy introduction to the unique flora of Aotearoa New Zealand, for the backyard, bach, and backpack.

Te Papa Te Taiao Nature Series: Native Shells of Aotearoa

A handy introduction to the unique shells of Aotearoa New Zealand, for the backyard, bach and backpack.

Three Cool Board Books

Beautiful, collectible, and very cool New Zealand art books for very young readers

Book cover with a four women dressed in togas leaning over a lily pond.

Through Shaded Glass: Women and photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960

Shining the light on New Zealand’s women photographers.

Tiny Statements: A social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges

The words and symbols we’ve worn. This small book with a big heart delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Whales and Dolphins of Aotearoa New Zealand

For centuries whales and dolphins have captured our imaginations. We have revered and mythologised them, hunted them to the brink of extinction and passionately protected them. But how much do we really know?