Site Visit: Te Papa Biodiversity Research Centre

Join NAWIC Wellington for an exclusive look at Te Papa's new Biodiversity Research Centre, a $155 million purpose-built facility currently under construction in Trentham, Upper Hutt.

Funded directly by the Government, this landmark project represents a significant investment in New Zealand’s scientific future. The new 6,600 square metre facility has been designed for seismic resilience and sustainability, targeting a 5-Star Green Star rating. It will support collections through to 2080 and includes state-of-the-art storage, research laboratories, and backup systems.

The facility will safeguard some of the country’s most important natural history collections, including the world’s largest collection of New Zealand and Southern Ocean fishes, alongside other nationally and internationally significant specimens.

Designed to replace Te Papa’s ageing and earthquake-prone storage building in Wellington, the Biodiversity Research Centre will provide a world-class environment for the preservation, research, and management of these invaluable collections.

Scheduled to open in 2028, the facility will secure the long-term future of New Zealand’s biodiversity heritage for generations to come.

Event supported by LT McGuinness

Access: Via 28 Dante Road, Upper Hutt. Follow the road around to the left, where you will see the site car park.

PPE: Hi vis vest, hard hat with chin strap (riggers style), steelcaps safety boots

Cost: Free - NAWIC Members only

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