Exhibition is now closed.
17 September 2025 – 7 March 2026
Central City Library
Lupe I Vao Ese
Experience a new Pacific heritage exhibition at Auckland’s Central City Library!
The phrase "Lupe I Vao Ese" is a poetic metaphor from Gagana Sāmoa, translating as "doves in different pastures". It expresses how measina – the cultural treasures of Moana Oceania – travel across time and place, carrying the voices of ancestors into the present and beyond.
What you’ll see
The exhibition features rare and evocative items from across the Pacific, drawn from Auckland Libraries’ Heritage Collections and items on loan from Pasifika specialists. Discover printed material, artwork and soundscapes that celebrate the enduring presence of measina in Aotearoa, including:
- Etchings from Cook’s Pacific expeditions (18th–19th century)
- Pacific ephemera, rare books, newspapers, and albums
- Digital and audio material from the 19th to 21st centuries
- Measina from across the Pacific, loaned from Pasifika specialists
- Preview display in the Atrium and a related Noken showcase on Level 1
Visit the exhibition
Come along to the Gallery to browse the collection at your own pace. No booking required.
The Gallery, Level 2, Central City Library | Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero
- Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm
- Saturday, 10am – 5pm
- Closed Sundays and public holidays
Parking and public transport
Central City Library has three Mobility parking spaces on Rutland Street right next to the library building.
For more information about parking and public transport, we recommend the Auckland Transport website. Go to AT's Auckland Central parking page or use the Journey Planner to find a bus or train route.
360° virtual tour
Get a sense of the exhibition space at Central City Library and learn about 10 featured measina items on display. Simply start the 360° virtual tour and tap the (i) icons to read more about each object.
For a high quality viewing experience, download the Walk Auckland app from the Apple App Store or Google Play on your smartphone.
Curator tours
Join Curator Pasifika Pamata Toleafoa for a deep dive into the stories behind Lupe I Vao Ese exhibition at Central City Library.
Read Pasifika and Indigenous stories
Enjoy a curated exhibition book list made in collaboration with Oceania Reads, a hapori pukapuka for peoples of Moana Oceania from across Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa.
