Touring Exhibition – Colossal Squid: Freaky Features!

22 November 2021 - 19 July 2026

Region(s): Waikato, Canterbury, Tasman, Auckland, Otago, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Nelson

Type(s): exhibitions

Because they live at extreme depths in freezing water, humans know very little about the colossal squid’s life, they are very rarely captured or seen. Find out about different parts of the colossal squid using Interactive objects and rotating models in this Te Papa touring exhibition.

The first scientific report of a colossal squid only came in 1925, when parts were discovered in the stomach of a sperm whale. Since then, only a few adult colossal squid have been reported, and only four have been recovered complete. Many, many other specimens are only parts recovered from the stomachs of whales, sharks and scavenging birds like the albatross.

Colossal Squid: Freaky Features! Te Ngū Tipua: Ngā Wāhanga Weriweri! 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 will be able to continue the experience and learn beyond the exhibition with a Te Papa Press book for children, Whiti: Colossal Squid of the Deep, and online resources including a free downloadable colossal squid activity book.

For more information: www.tepapa.govt.nz/about/touring-exhibitions/touring-exhibition-colossal-squid-freaky-features.

Tour schedule

• Motueka District Museum Pupuri Taonga, Motueka: 28 Apr – 19 Jul 2026

• Kawatiri Pounamu Pathway Experience Centre, Westport: 5 Feb – 27 Apr 2026

• Taupō Museum, Taupō: 18 Aug – 20 Oct 2025

• Warkworth District Museum, Warkworth: 9 Jul – 17 Aug 2025

• Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery, Alexandra, Central Otago: 6 May – 9 Jun 2025

• Waitaki Museum and Archive, Oamaru: 12 Dec 2024 – 16 Feb 2025

• Western Bay Museum, Katikati: July 2024 – 1 October 2024

• Tauranga Museum, Tauranga: 3 Apri 2024 – 1 Jul 2024

• Te Awamutu Museum, Te Awamutu: 25 Nov 2023 – 31 Mar 2024

• Kaikoura Museum, Kaikōura: 20 Sep 2023 – 14 Nov 2023

• Ashburton Museum, Ashburton: 24 Jun 2023 – 17 Sep 2023

• Puke Ariki, New Plymouth: 03 Dec 2022 – 26 Feb 2023

• South Canterbury Museum, Timaru: 02 Sep – 20 Nov 2022

• The Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao, Nelson: 26 May 26 – 28 Aug 2022

• Waikato Museum, Hamilton: 26 Nov 2021 – 16 Mar 2022