British Council New Zealand and the Pacific are proud to be supporting the event season for Breathe | Mauri Ora: An immersive journey into nature by Marshmallow Laser Feast, at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. This stunning exhibition features major video works on a grand, awe-inspiring scale, an optional VR experience, and a guided meditation voiced by Cate Blanchett. Visitors evolve from droplets of water to ancient trees, human cells and black holes, connecting to a deep understanding of the natural world and our place within it.
Originally created at ACMI in Melbourne with funding from British Council Australia, this New Zealand-exclusive presentation reflects a strong regional partnership and the British Council’s role in supporting UK artists to reach global audiences. The exhibition’s themes resonate deeply in a region profoundly impacted by climate change.
The exhibition is a powerful demonstration of how art and technology can spark imagination and deepen understanding.
Marshmallow Laser Feast is a London-based art collective led by artists and directors Robin McNicholas, Ersin Han Ersin, and Barnaby Steel. They work at the intersection of science, art, and technology – employing a wealth of creative disciplines, from installation to kinetic sculpture, film to live performance.
MLF’s work invites participants into a sensory journey that reinterprets the idea of human perception and experiences beyond our everyday reality. MLF collaborates with artists, engineers and scientists, building bespoke software and hardware systems to realise their visions.
The wrap-around Breathe | Mauri Ora event season offers ticketed and free events that provide unique ways to explore the exhibition’s themes.
Breathe | Mauri Ora is a New Zealand exclusive, from 13 December to 27 April, only at Te Papa.
Event details:
Fri 20 Feb 2026, 6pm–9pm
Discover how art, science, nature, and Indigenous knowledge converge as Marshmallow Laser Feast and experts share insights inspired by Breathe | Mauri Ora.
From Land, Sea, and Sky: Unseen stories from nature
Wed 25 Feb 2026, 6.30pm–8pm
Discover inspiring stories of Aotearoa New Zealand's unique native species with an evening of one-off spotlight talks from natural history, art, and mātauranga Māori curators.
Hā ki roto, hā ki waho
Tue 3 Mar 2026, 7pm–8.30pm
A one-hour immersive performance of taonga puoro (Māori musical instruments) and spoken word celebrating the exhibition and our connection to te taiao (nature) in our own backyard.
The Path: A Performance Journey through Breathe | Mauri Ora
Sat 7 Mar 2026, 7pm–10pm
How do poets, musicians, and dancers respond to the immersive worlds of Breathe | Mauri Ora?
From Land, Sea, and Sky: Unseen stories from nature (second session)
Wed 11 Mar 2026, 6.30pm–8pm
Discover inspiring stories of Aotearoa New Zealand's unique native species with an evening of one-off spotlight talks from natural history, art, and mātauranga Māori curators.
Whānau Day: Breathe | Mauri Ora (free)
Sat 11 Apr 2026, 10am–2pm
A free whānau (family) day of activities inspired by the exhibition. Explore and celebrate our deep connections through creative exploration.
See more about the events season here