Illuminate art exhibition: shining a light on the Parliamentary Collection
Last updated: 16 September 2025Parliament’s upcoming art exhibition, illuminate, shines a light on the Parliamentary Collection. This exhibition brings together iconic and interesting pieces, including Illuminated Addresses, and the Maslin Collection, which will be displayed in its entirety for the first time. Come see Parliament’s stories, told through curated collections sharing history and culture.
A key feature of this exhibition are the Illuminated Addresses; these usually refer to decorative objects (often a scroll, book, or paper) that were created to commemorate special occasions or achievements. The term "illuminated" refers to the decorative technique of enhancing the artwork with bright colours and gold leaf, a practice common in the Middle Ages. Characterised by elaborate and intricate decoration and embellishments—including gold or silver leaf—they are often personalised with the recipient's name and details.
The illuminate Exhibition will showcase some of the illuminated addresses held in the Parliamentary Collection, most of which were presented to Premier Richard Seddon in the early 20th century.
The Te Ao Mārama Collection is also featured, showcasing the work of a Māori artist that was commissioned for display in and around Te Ao Mārama – the temporary Māori Affairs Select Committee Room in Bowen House while Parliament House was being refurbished in the 1990s.
On public display for the first time in its entirety, the Maslin Collection was gifted by Mrs. R.M. Maslin to the people of New Zealand in the early 20th century in 1909, in appreciation of Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward’s offer to fund the construction of a Royal Navy battleship. Items in this collection represent royal gifts that were presented to her father-in-law, Mr Stephen Maslin, who served for nearly 60 years in the households of Queen Victoria and her mother, the Duchess of Kent. Perhaps most notable, this collection features a lock of the young Princess Victoria’s hair, which will be exhibited alongside other gifted items.
Come see the exhibition in person, or explore the Parliamentary Collection online. You can view the collection on your own devices, or come check it out through the browsing space set up in our gallery while visiting the current exhibition. The full online collection is made up over 4500 items, and includes stunning artworks, taonga, photographs, furniture, memorabilia, monuments, statues, plaques, and shields. You can now view the following items online:
- Artworks donated by MFAT
- The National Library Collection
- The Maslin Collection: Queen Victoria-related objects, including a lock of her hair, gifted by one of her servants who moved to New Zealand
- Te Ao Mārama Collection: commissions from the 1990s by notable Māori artists
- Parliamentary Shields
- Heritage in Use: items from the collection that are used in the running of Parliament
Visiting the exhibition:
The exhibition is being held in Parliament's art gallery Te Papakura (EW 2.4, Beehive)
The exhibition space is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday every week, from 10am to 4pm.
You can also book here to take a general tour of Parliament, and visit the art gallery while you’re here!
