Freaky Features: Colossal Squid Ngū Tipua
Colossal Squid comes to Taupō!
The ever popular Te Papa exhibition Colossal Squid Ngu Tipua, opens at Taupō Museum on 20 August 2025 and runs through until 20 October 2025.
The Colossal Squid is so rarely seen that only eight adult colossal squid have ever been scientifically reported. Now Taupō Museum in co-operation with Te Papa, is set to reveal some of the fascinating science and wonderful secrets of one of New Zealand’s most significant natural history specimens.
Te Papa's Head of Natural History, Phil Edgar said, “in learning about this weird and mysterious creature we hope visitors will have a greater appreciation for life in the deep sea, much of which remains undiscovered.”
The Colossal Squid is one of the most iconic specimens at Te Papa, and while touring the complete specimen is impossible, some of the important parts of the squid has found its way to Taupō Museum.
Te Papa’s Curator of Invertebrates Dr Rodrigo Salvador explains how important the Colossal Squid has been for the science community, and how popular it has been among the public.
“Te Papa’s Colossal Squid has been a major source of information for scientists and the museum’s most popular exhibit since its debut. They live in the deep Antarctic waters and despite being one of the largest invertebrate species in existence, they are very rarely captured”.
Colossal Squid Ngu Tipua centres around an interactive table displaying many different objects including the lens from an eye of the Colossal Squid, part of a tentacle, and a complete tiny squid; the miniature of its colossal relative. Touchable rotating models of a squid’s tentacle hook and the Colossal Squid's beak are also on display.
The exhibition also displays two documentaries which show life in the depths of the Southern Ocean, and how the most complete Colossal Squid ever found ended up at Te Papa.
The public are able to continue the experience and learn beyond the exhibition with a new Te Papa press book for children, Whiti: Colossal Squid of the Deep, and online Te Papa resources including a free downloadable Colossal Squid Activity Book.
Colossal Squid Ngu Tipua is developed and toured by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
For further information please contact: exhibitions@taupo.govt.nz
- Sessions:
-
- Wed 20 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 21 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 22 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 23 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 24 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 25 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 26 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 27 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 28 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 29 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 30 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 31 Aug, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 1 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 2 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 3 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 4 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 5 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 6 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 7 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 8 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 9 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 10 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 11 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 12 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 13 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 14 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 15 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 16 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 17 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 18 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 19 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 20 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 21 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 22 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 23 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 24 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 25 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 26 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 27 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 28 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 29 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 30 Sep, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 1 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 2 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 3 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 4 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 5 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 6 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 7 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 8 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 9 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 10 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 11 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 12 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 13 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Tue 14 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Wed 15 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Thu 16 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Fri 17 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sat 18 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Sun 19 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Mon 20 Oct, 10:00am - 4:30pm
- Ticket information:
- Adults: $6.00
- Seniors (60+) | Tertiary Students (with ID): $3.00
- Tamariki | Children: $0.00
- Location:
- Taupo Museum
- Restrictions:
- All Ages
