Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa caters for a variety of visitors with special access needs. Before you come to Te Papa, feel free to call Te Aka Matua Te Papa Library and Information Centre, ph (04) 381 7000, and let us know your interests and needs. During your visit Te Papa Hosts are available for assistance and information.

Te Papa provides parking near the main entrance for visitors with disabilities. Cost is $3.00 per hour up to a daily maximum of $12. Access to the building is at ground level through the main entrance.

Further information:

  • Manual wheelchairs are available at Coats, Bags | Koti, Peke on Level 1. They can be booked by phoning Te Papa on (04) 381 7000 ext 7964. Throughout Te Papa, seats and benches are provided in most exhibitions, at food outlets, and along walkways.
  • All main exhibition areas and some themed attractions are accessible to visitors with disabilities. Visitors with impaired vision will find that many places in our exhibitions use sound to convey information. And the Audio Guide provides information about some of Te Papa’s exhibitions and objects with entertaining music and commentary. It is available in English, Māori, German, and Japanese, and costs $5.
  • For visitors with impaired hearing, hearing-aid loops can be found in various places throughout Te Papa. A hearing-aid symbol is visible where hearing-aid loops are in place.
  • Braille description is provided in lifts.
  • Te Papa hosts are trained to facilitate the needs of disabled visitors, and also offer guided tours for the hearing or visually impaired visitors. 
  • Te Papa caters for groups with disabilities. Te Papa’s four Discovery Centres are full of interactive games, computers, and books, and can accommodate large groups of children with disabilities. For large groups of visitors with disabilities, Golden Days, StoryPlace, and The Time Warp need to be booked.
  • Toilets with wheelchair access can be found on most levels of Te Papa. In the case of emergency, Te Papa has procedures for assisting visitors in wheelchairs and their caregivers.

Note that Saturday 8 December 2007 is International Day for Disabled Persons. Te Papa has tours and events especially for this day. Some large events/lectures will have a sign language translator.


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