Te Papa announces two-phase restructure ‘to secure future’

Friday, 10 October 2025

Te Papa today announced it is conducting a two-phase, organisation-wide review to restructure its teams and positions to create efficiencies and new ways of working.

The review’s first phase this year will focus on managers at tier two and three levels while the second phase in early 2026 will look at the rest of Te Papa. Final decisions will be implemented in next April.

Co-leaders chief executive Courtney Johnston and kaihautū Dr Arapata Hakiwai, said the review was to ensure financial stability, as running and maintaining specialist buildings had strained cash reserves.

“As kaitiaki (guardians) of the national museum, we’ve made significant operational savings and increases to our revenue, but we need to do more,” they said. “This review seeks to create enduring financial sustainability so we can continue to deliver on our cultural and legislative mandate for generations to come.

“Our commitment is to make this process as transparent as we can and respect the needs and mana of our people.”

The co-leaders said existing work programmes – such as the repatriation of kōiwi tangata and kōimi tangata, strategic, founding, and long-term partnerships, and work with iwi and mana whenua – would also remain unchanged.

Te Papa will continue to operate for visitors as usual, and entry to Te Papa will remain free for New Zealanders and residents of New Zealand.

When Te Papa introduced an international visitor charge of $35 in September 2024 ‒ in the midst of rising costs including power, insurance and staff wages ‒ it brought in more than $343,000 of new revenue in just over four weeks.

Te Papa’s last restructure, in 2019, ended in controversy when it made two science experts redundant, later backing down over the decision.