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About the Research Library
Te Aka Matua Research Library is Te Papa’s research and reference resource. The Library opened in 1867. It holds over 55,000 titles. Around 2,200 of these are designated as Rare Books. The Library also holds extensive files of ephemera on exhibitions and New Zealand artists. The focus of the Library is on New Zealand, Māori, and Pacific history, the natural environment, art, photography, and museum studies.
The Library’s purpose is to provide research support to assist with Te Papa’s scholarship, programmes and projects. The Librarians are available to help with all your research needs - give them a subject and/or a broad idea of what you are working on and they will get back to you with information from the collection and further afield.
Our online resources are available mostly in the office only. Let us know if you have any trouble accessing online resources from home. Please note, Bridget Williams Books, Ancestry and British Newspaper Archive are only available when working at Te Papa. Both Bridget Williams Books and British Newspaper Archive are also accessible using a Te Papa Mobile.
Resources - Onsite only
Access Ancestry
https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.au/search/
Access The British NEWSPAPER Archive
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Browse Bridget Williams Treaty Texts collection (e-books)
https://treatyofwaitangicollection.bwb.co.nz/
The Research library is part of the Collection Access group of the Collections and Research Directorate.
Quick links - Onsite only
- Meaning of our name, 'Te Aka Matua'
- Te Aka Matua's Collection development policy (2025)
- Search the library catalogue and/or our full-text resources on Tomokanga | Gateway
Borrowing resources
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Staff type |
Access abilities |
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Te Papa staff, including those on fixed term employment, and research associates |
Able to borrow resources. If you take resources from a library space, please email library@tepapa.govt.nz with the title and barcode so the item can be issued to you. |
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Casual staff, volunteers and interns |
May consult the holdings, however do not have borrowing rights. If you do need to borrow material, ask your manager to contact library@tepapa.govt.nz to discuss your requirements. |