This 70-minute documentary provides an eye-opening view into the crucible that forged Wellington's Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The museum opened in February 1998. The fly-on-the-wall doco reveals the challenges of developing a national museum melding history, art gallery and commercial attractions. As political, creative and monetary considerations collide, the result bears "many of the hallmarks of a thriller" (NZ Herald writer Peter Calder). Included are tense stoushes about funding, the Treaty of Waitangi exhibition, and Saatchi & Saatchi's logo ideas. This backgrounder adds further detail.
We needed to have an identity that could go out there and work for us in the commercial environment.– Te Papa Chief Executive Cheryll Sotheran
Made with funding from NZ On Air
Presented with thanks to the Aotearoa/ New Zealand Film Heritage Trust – Te Puna Ataata
This film is in memory of Leni Apisai
Closing credits live performance of 'Now is the Hour' by Howard Morrison
Summary of key topics and participants in this documentary, on co-director Anna Cottrell's website
Interview with co-director Gaylene Preston, The NZ Herald, July 1999
Images from this documentary, on co-director Gaylene Preston's website
Tributes to longtime Te Papa Chief Executive Cheryll Sotheran, The Big Idea, January 2018
Tributes to Te Papa Kaihautū (Māori co-leader) Cliff Whiting, Te Papa website, July 2017
Profile of Te Papa board Chairman Ron Trotter, Stuff, August 2010
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