Archives New Zealand, officially known as Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, has announced a series of significant updates reflecting both recent challenges and strategic advancements.
As the national archival institution, Archives New Zealand remains committed to enhancing public service and recordkeeping practices, despite financial constraints and the ongoing complexities of a large-scale collaborative functional design programme.
Strategic Collaboration and Functional Design
The ongoing functional design programme between Archives New Zealand and the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, marks a crucial step toward improving the efficiency and effectiveness of both institutions. This initiative is an in-depth effort that requires a cultural and mindset shift within the organisations to foster deeper collaboration. The goal is to better meet the needs of customers and stakeholders through shared spaces and resources.
One of the prominent developments within this programme is the construction of a new building in Wellington. The facility, designed to be a shared space for both Archives New Zealand and the National Library, will include a link bridge that physically and symbolically connects the two institutions. This new infrastructure is expected to facilitate more integrated services and enhanced collaboration. Additionally, there are plans to expand relationships with Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, recognising both the similarities and distinct differences between the institutions, particularly in relation to their legislative responsibilities.
Royal Commission of Inquiry Report Released
On July 24, 2023, the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions was released and published on the Royal Commission’s website. Titled “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” the report is of profound historical significance to Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Royal Commission, established in 2018, has been the largest and most complex public inquiry in the nation’s history, with nearly 2,800 individuals sharing their experiences of abuse and neglect. Archives New Zealand played a critical role in supporting the inquiry, providing thousands of historical records related to state care. The agency has acknowledged the report’s recommendations, particularly those related to recordkeeping. The already-established Agency Records Working Group is poised to respond to these recommendations and continue the ongoing work in this area.
Key Definitions Updated for Clarity
In line with its commitment to transparency and accessibility, Archives New Zealand has updated its list of plain language definitions for technical terms used in its guidance. These updates are based on best practices in international and national information management, drawing from standards issued by the International Standards Organisation (ISO), the Australian (AS) and New Zealand (NZS) Standards organisations, and internal standards set by the Poumanaaki Chief Archivist.
New Archival Building Scheduled for 2025
Looking ahead, Archives New Zealand is preparing for a significant move to a new, purpose-built archival facility on the corner of Aitken and Mulgrave Streets in Wellington. This move is scheduled to begin in mid-2025, with the building opening to the public in mid-2026. The new building will be jointly occupied by Archives New Zealand and the National Library, offering state-of-the-art facilities designed to enhance public access and the preservation of records.
Given the scale of this transition, some services may be temporarily affected during the move. Archives New Zealand is actively working through the details and will provide updates to the public as they become available. Researchers planning visits from July 2025 are advised to check the Archives New Zealand website or contact the institution directly before finalising travel plans.
Reflecting on the Past Year
Between July 2023 and June 2024, Archives New Zealand undertook a range of public services and responsibilities. During this period, the institution provided 1,715 hours of reading room services across its four offices, hosting 4,589 readers who accessed 29,644 records. Archivists and support staff responded to 15,850 enquiries via phone, email, and online channels.
In terms of regulatory functions, Archives New Zealand completed 3,609 government loans, processed 47 transfers, and made 8,805 records access status changes. The organisation also published 794 social media posts, received 439,000 webpage views, and successfully handled 39 Official Information Act requests.
Additionally, the conclusion of the Te Maeatanga digitisation programme was marked by the capture of 318,976 images and the ingestion of 658,382 images into the Government Digital Archive, contributing to a total of 1,366,175 records available online.
Ongoing Digitisation Efforts
Archives New Zealand continues to prioritise the digitisation of its collections, with teams across the country working diligently to make more materials available online. These efforts include digitisation on demand services, internal projects, and large-scale outsourced digitisation initiatives.
Image Source:
- Archives New Zealand Logo: Archives New Zealand
