Te Ripo o Te Moana: Taonga Through Time is a new exhibition of taonga Māori from Auckland Museum’s collection.
OPEN SAT 29 AUG, 2026
LEVEL 1
FREE WITH MUSEUM ENTRY
Te Ripo o Te Moana: Taonga Through Time brings together taonga Māori from the Museum’s collection in an exhibition exploring the richness and diversity of Māori creative practice.
Featuring whakairo rākau (wood carving), raranga (weaving), kōwhaiwhai (customary painting) and whakakai (body adornment), the exhibition spans both customary and contemporary Māori art. Through taonga from across Aotearoa, visitors will discover distinct making traditions, materials and visual languages shaped by the unique environment and materials of Aotearoa.
Rich in story and symbolism, these taonga reflect enduring connections between tangata (people), whenua (land) and moana (sea). Translated as ‘The Whirlpool of the Sea’, Te Ripo o Te Moana shares stories of migration, whakapapa and identity, revealing how ancestral knowledge is carried forward and reimagined through generations of makers.
Te Rā - The Māori sail
Te Rā, the only known customary Māori sail in existence, will be on display in Te Ripo o Te Moana.
At nearly four and a half metres high and featuring a complex three-way pattern woven from harakeke, Te Rā is a testament to the skill of Māori weaving and serves as a reminder of the rich history of Māori sailing and navigation.
Based on study of Te Rā, the sail is known to have been made in the late-18th century, but it is not known where in Aotearoa Te Rā was made, or by whom. Marks and signs of wear on the sail show that Te Rā was used before it was collected in Aotearoa and taken to Britain.
We welcome you to engage with this significant taonga once again, while it is on display in Te Ripo o Te Moana.
Te Ripo o Te Moana: Taonga Through Time is an exhibition of customary and contemporary taonga Māori from Auckland Museum’s collection. It explores Māori creative practice across generations through whakairo rākau (wood carving), raranga (weaving), kōwhaiwhai (customary painting), whakakai (body adornment) and other taonga.
Te Ripo o Te Moana translates as ‘The Whirlpool of the Sea’. The exhibition explores connections between tangata (people), whenua (land) and moana (sea), and shares stories of migration, whakapapa (genealogy and connections), identity and ancestral knowledge.
Taonga are treasured and significant objects that carry cultural knowledge, histories and connections. In Te Ripo o Te Moana, visitors can encounter taonga Māori spanning generations of creative practice, from customary works to contemporary art.
The exhibition brings together taonga from across Aotearoa New Zealand, including whakairo rākau (wood carving), raranga (weaving), kōwhaiwhai (customary painting) and whakakai (body adornment). Visitors can explore the materials, techniques, stories and visual languages of Māori makers across time.
No. Te Ripo o Te Moana is for everyone, whether you are encountering taonga Māori for the first time or already have a connection with Māori art and culture. The exhibition introduces different forms of Māori creative practice and explores the stories, knowledge and relationships are embodied in taonga.
Te Rā is the only known customary Māori sail in existence. Nearly four and a half metres long, it features an intricate three-way pattern woven from harakeke (New Zealand flax). Made in the late 18th century, Te Rā offers a rare connection to the extraordinary sailing, weaving and navigational knowledge of Māori.
Te Rā is a remarkable example of Māori weaving and an important link to the voyaging traditions of Māori ancestors. Marks and signs of wear show that the sail was used before it was collected in Aotearoa and taken to Britain. Where it was made, and who made it, remains unknown at this stage.
Te Rā will be on display as part of Te Ripo o Te Moana: Taonga Through Time, opening Saturday 29 August 2026. This is an opportunity to encounter this significant taonga while it is on display at Auckland Museum.
Te Ripo o Te Moana: Taonga Through Time is located on Level 1 of Auckland Museum. See our Level One map for more information on how to find this gallery, and learn more about the other galleries nearby.
No. Entry to Te Ripo o Te Moana: Taonga Through Time is included with Museum General Admission. No separate exhibition ticket is required.
Yes. The exhibition offers visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand an opportunity to encounter taonga Māori and discover Māori creative traditions, histories and knowledge through objects from Auckland Museum’s collection.
Yes. Families are welcome to enjoy Te Ripo o Te Moana together. The exhibition offers opportunities to look closely at different materials, patterns, forms and making traditions while discovering the stories connected with taonga Māori.
Yes, photos are permitted for personal use. If specific taonga are not able to be photographed, this will be communicated using signage.