Ours: Treasures from Te Papa

There's a story held within every object, a quiet history waiting to be told. Ours: Treasures from Te Papa is a series of conversations that bring these stories to life, moving far beyond a simple catalogue of museum pieces. Each episode focuses on a single taonga, a treasure, from the vast collections of Te Papa Tongarewa. What makes this podcast distinct is the pairing of voices: you'll hear from a Te Papa expert who provides the deep historical and cultural context, alongside a New Zealander for whom that particular object holds profound personal significance. The range is wonderfully broad, connecting threads between high art and everyday pop culture, between specimens from the natural world and items from the frontline of the nation's political history. It’s an intimate exploration of how these treasures are not just relics behind glass, but living pieces of identity and memory. Produced by RNZ, the series builds a rich, layered portrait of Aotearoa through the things its people have made, kept, and loved. Tuning in feels less like a history lesson and more like being invited into a series of thoughtful, revealing conversations about what we value and why.