New Zealand Portrait Gallery

20/10/2026

Join us this Saturday 24 October at 11am for a floor talk with artist Terry Stringer and Art Specialist Mark Hutchins-Pond.

Image: Terry Stringer & Lois White: A Portrait, Photographed by Catherine Adam

13/10/2026

A sneak peek into our collection:

This portrait painted by Nicolette Page captures Carmen Rupe in her Sydney apartment, surrounded by the eclectic and opulent interiors that reflected her vibrant personality. Carmen saw the painting in progress but, sadly, did not live to see it completed.

Her apartment, much like her strip club and coffee lounge, was decorated in her distinctive style. Every object in the painting offers a glimpse into Carmen's colourful life, lived on her own terms.

Sydney based artist Nicolette Page's 'Carmen' was selected as a finalist in the 2012 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.

Be sure to visit our neighbours at Wellington Museum to see their fabulous exhibition on Carmen Rupe!

You can see Carmen in our online collection or see the painting in person at Tauranga Art Gallery from 24 October.

05/10/2026

Entries are now open for the 2027 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award!

We invite ringatoi Māori of all ages to celebrate their tupuna through portraiture creating new works in any medium that honour the people, stories and connections that shape our lives.

For 2027, the Award has a refreshed vision and exciting new opportunities for artists. including a $20,000 First Prize, $2,500 Young Artist Award for artists aged 30 and under, and $2,500 People's Choice Award.

Entries close Wednesday 24 March 2027.

For more information head to our website https://www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz/kiingituheitiaaward

29/09/2026

📣We're hiring!

The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is looking for a part-time Donor & Development Manager (30 hours per week) to join our team.

This is a key role supporting the Gallery's growth through fundraising, grants, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and donor relationships.

We're looking for someone who is:

💫Positive, outgoing and confident
💫Experienced in fundraising and grant applications
💫Skilled at building and nurturing relationships
💫Organised and great with managing deadlines
💫Experienced with CRM systems and event planning
💫Passionate about the visual arts and the Gallery's work

Knowledge of te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and the principles of Te Tirti o Waitangi is desirable.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!

Link in bio

Applications close Sunday 11 October 2026

Image: 'Big Brother', Gavin Chai, Collection of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata.

17/09/2026

Planning your end-of-year celebration?

Host your Christmas party at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. Gather your team, friends or clients, enjoy a few drinks and celebrate the end of the year surrounded by great art.

Head to our website to find out more.

16/09/2026

Currently on display in the gallery entrance is Richard McWhannell's Robin Duff: Larger Than Life.

This portrait is part of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery's permanent collection and was painted from life, with Robin making several trips to Auckland to sit for Richard. During this time the two became friends.

Robin Duff (1947 - 2005) was a New Zealand teacher, education leader and gay rights activist.

Image: Richard McWhannell, Robin Duff Larger Than Life, 2004-05, oil on canvas. Collection: New Zealand Portrait Gallery.

15/09/2026

We are excited to be part of Bee in the City Wellington this year! Come in and find our bee, created by the students of Upper Hutt School

The Bee in the City trail is NOW LIVE!

​And what better way to get started than by meeting one of Aotearoa’s native bees?

​This beautiful sculpture by Taupuruariki (Ariki) Whakataka Brightwell celebrates the ngaro a huruhuru native bee, bringing its distinctive form and colours to life.

​As Ariki says, it shines a light on Aotearoa’s native bees, which are often overlooked and increasingly under threat from environmental change, habitat loss and urbanisation.

​Bee in the City, presented by Mills-Albert Limited, is raising vital funds for Life Flight, helping provide critical lifesaving care to people across Aotearoa when they need it most.

​Download the free map app - find this beauty by Ferg’s Kayaks and start exploring the Bee in the City trail today.

​How many bees can you find?

​KEI TE TUWHERA te ara Pī ki te Tāone!

​Waihoki, hei tīmatanga mā tātou, kāore i tua atu i te tūtaki atu ki tētahi o ngā ngaro a huruhuru o Aotearoa.

​He mea whakanui tēnei tārai ātaahua nā Taupuruariki (Ariki) Whakataka Brightwell, i te ngaro a huruhuru. Ko tāna he whakapuaki i te āhuahanga motuhake, me ngā tae motuhake hoki.

​E ai ki a Ariki, ko tā te tārai nei he miramira i ngā ngaro a huruhuru o Aotearoa e kaha whakangongotia nei, me te kaha haere o te tūraru ki runga i a rātou mō te huringa ā-taiao, te ngarotanga o te nōhanga me te whakatāonetanga.

​He mea tautoko a Pī ki te Tāone nā Mills-Albert Limited. Ko tāna he kohi i te pūtea waiwai mā Life Flight, hei āwhina ki te whakarato i te tautiaki e tino matea nei huri noa i Aotearoa, i ngā wā e tino matea ana.

​Tīkina ake te taupānga mahere utukore - kia kitea tēnei taonga ki te taha o Ferg’s Kayaks, ā, me tīmata tō whakatōmene i te ara Pī ki te Tāone i tēnei rā.

​E hia ngā pī e kite nei koe?

10/09/2026

Tomorrow we open 'Terry Stringer & Lois White: A Portrait'. Spanning painting and sculpture, this new exhibition brings together White's modernist-symbolist works with Stringer's figurative bronze sculptures. Although working in different periods and mediums, both artists used the human figure as a means of exploring ideas around spirituality, morality, resilience and the human experience.

Open to the public from Friday 11 September, 10am.

Image: Terry Stringer, Lois White in Her Studio, 2005/2025. Photograph by Haru Samehima.

03/09/2026

The Adam Portraiture Award is now showing in Queenstown!

30/08/2026

Join us this Saturday 5 September at 11am for a floor talk with 'Portraits from the Parkin Collection' curator Anna Rigg and collector Chris Parkin.

Image: John Walsh, Marakihau the Messenger, 2024. Oil on gold on board.