Museums Aotearoa News

6 September 2010

Despite the shock of the Canterbury earthquake, we are very pleased that the damage to museums and collections appears to be very minor. We have been in touch with museum colleagues in the affected area today. While we have not been able to contact every museum, most that we have heard from say that their buildings are unscathed, and the larger institutions are almost unaffected – except that they will be closed for a few days and Christchurch Art Gallery has transformed into a Civil Defence centre. The same goes for collections – it seems that museums have been very good at securing their objects on display, using museum wax, fixed mounting techniques and other means which have minimised movement and damage.

Others have not faired so well. There has been some chimney damage at Okains Bay Museum and the Lyttelton Timeball Station. The Logie Collection of antiquities at Canterbury University has sustained significant damage. And our sympathies go to William Cottrell, whose Gunyah homestead near Mt Hutt was badly damaged when 6 chimneys fell through the roof, and some of the collection of colonial furniture smashed. Other historic homes and buildings have been badly damaged, some probably beyond repair, including Christchurch Repertory Theatre, Homebush and Ohinetahi homesteads. It has been reported that the Kaiapoi Museum has also suffered badly, but we have no further details.

If there is anyone wanting assistance, please do let us know. Staff at the larger museums have offered help and advice, and Museums Aotearoa can put you in touch with someone with suitable expertise.

We are extremely thankful that the earthquake happened at 4.30am when so few people were about to get in the path of falling facades and verandas in the inner city. Taken on a global scale, the people of Canterbury have got off very lightly. And it is a powerful reminder to us all to think again about our preparedness, both professionally and personally, for when the next earthquake strikes.

Check out National Services Te Paerangi for helpful resources and contacts, here.

Lotteries fund to support World Cup festival events announced

28 July 2010

Public events as part of next year’s nationwide Rugby World Cup festival will be supported by a new $9.5 million lotteries fund, Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully and Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy announced today.

“During Rugby World Cup 2011 we will be staging a nationwide festival which will showcase the best of New Zealand’s arts, food and wine, heritage, entertainment, experiences, and lifestyle,” Mr McCully said.

“The New Zealand 2011 Festival Lottery Fund will support all sorts of community events associated with the festival. This could include everything from concerts, fairs and exhibitions, to street markets and parades.”

Funding can go towards management and operating costs, artists’ fees, publicity and production costs.

“Rugby World Cup 2011 will be the largest sporting event ever held in New Zealand, and we want to maximise community involvement,” Mr Guy said.

“With 23 centres hosting either games or teams, the celebrations and the economic benefits are going to be spread throughout the country. This funding will ensure the opportunities to be part of the Rugby World Cup festival are equally widespread.”

Mr McCully said the lottery fund would complement the significant investment that regions and the government were already making in the nationwide festival.

The fund will be administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, and decisions will be made by members of the 2011 Group – Bob Parker, Sir David Gascoigne, Bob Harvey, Sharon Hunter and Wally Stone. Applications for grants open today, and close on 17 September. Recipients will be advised in early November.

The funding has been allocated by the Lottery Grants Board, which distributes the profits of New Zealand Lotteries (including Lotto and Instant Kiwi) to various statutory bodies and distribution committees.

For more on this fund and other lottery grants see www.dia.govt.nz

For the NZ 2011 Festival programme, see www.nz2011.govt.nz

Download application information:
Information sheet (pdf, 150KB)
FAQs (pdf, 100KB)
Application form (Word, 275KB)

Museums Aotearoa Media releases

Tribute to Dr Seddon Bennington

17 July 2009

It is with sadness and warmth that Museums Aotearoa remembers Dr Seddon Bennington, not only leader of Te Papa, but also Deputy Chair and Board member of Museums Aotearoa for the last 4 years. Our thoughts go out to his family and to all our colleagues at Te Papa.

Museums Aotearoa tribute to Dr Seddon Bennington

To read Te Papa's message of condolence and to make a personal tribute, see the Te Papa blog here.

Funeral Arrangements for Dr Seddon Bennington
19th July 2009 - Press Release from Te Papa

General Election 2008 - discussion paper

29 September 2008

Museums Aotearoa today sent a discussion paper to the political parties contesting the 2008 general election.  It sets out some key issues for the museum sector, and invites each party to articulate their cultural policy.

Download the Discussion Paper (pdf, 49KB)