Museums Aotearoa

22/06/2026

On Thursday evening Museums Aotearoa CE Jaenine Parkinson joined RNZ's The Panel, arguing that Tourism New Zealand’s own research shows “43% of international holiday visitors… visited a museum and gallery.” To me, “that’s not ancillary. That’s central to the tourism experience.”

But despite that, “the burden for cultural infrastructure is being borne entirely by ratepayers.”

If we want a strong, globally competitive tourism system, museums and galleries need to be at the table for conversations about how we can invest in the cultural infrastructure that attracts people to New Zealand.

Listen here, link in comments:

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Zoe George and Vinny Holloway. First up, regional airlines are cutting routes and selling planes to make ends meet, even though Forsyth Barr head of research Andy Bowley said jet fuel prices had fallen steadily in recent days. Dr Damien....

16/06/2026

"Museums and galleries maintain about $5.6 billion worth of cultural assets and local councils provide the majority of funding for them. We receive no dedicated national infrastructure funding at all...We've been completely cut out and we're calling on the government to try and find a way to insure our cultural assets into the future." Museums Aotearoa CE Jaenine Parkinson on RNZ Checkpoint yesterday, read more here:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/598262/museums-and-galleries-struggle-to-balance-books-without-govt-funding?fbclid=IwY2xjawSdndxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwNzVzNEpaTEJIUTBQZzBOc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhTpuYwewK5Mdx3Yb6al2n_crb0ovNuFLp3woFDdV_FmVLglfoJL154qScsS_aem_4vDa3NWMrOiuSsnDyGCL-Q

One museum's board chair tried to swim Cook Strait to raise funds for sprinklers earlier this year.

16/06/2026

Museums Aotearoa CE Jaenine Parkinson joined RNZ Culture 101 on Sunday to discuss what she calls a feast-and-famine funding model, why the burden of caring for the nation's taonga falls almost entirely on ratepayers, and what she wants the next government to understand about the things museums do that don't show up in GDP.
- Listen here:

Jaenine Parkinson is the new CEO of Museums Aotearoa, the peak body for the country's museums and galleries, having come from a near-eight-year stint at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery and then a brief role at Te Papa that was disestablished in a restructure. She joins Culture 101 to discuss what s...

04/06/2026

Museums Aotearoa Co-Chair David Reeves spoke to RNZ this morning on a proposed change to copyright law that would give museums, libraries, galleries and archives greater flexibility to create digital copies of work to preserve them and make them available online. Listen here:

Works of historical importance and ones that help tell New Zealand's national story could be made more accessible under a proposed change to copyright laws. The government wants to give museums, libraries, galleries and archives greater flexibility to create digital copies of work to preserve them a...

28/05/2026

Museums are under pressure. Jaenine Parkinson says they’ve never mattered more - André Chumko | The Post

“Museums can be the storehouses of knowledge and history and stability, but they can also be places of creativity and innovation,” Parkinson says... “The potential of our spaces to have these brave conversations, to bring people together, to get over some of these big hurdles around trust and social cohesion, ... that’s the kind of the success that I’m aspiring to.”

Read more...https://museumsaotearoa.org.nz/news/museums-are-under-pressure-jaenine-parkinson-says-they-ve-never-mattered-more

05/01/2026

Happy New Year!!

As we welcome 2026, we’re looking ahead and standing firm in our commitment to protect Art History in Aotearoa.
Art History helps students understand culture, creativity, identity and our shared histories. It builds critical thinking, visual literacy and cultural understanding. These are skills that matter now more than ever.

In 2026, we’re continuing to call on the Government and the Ministry of Education to keep Art History as a standalone subject in secondary schools.

If this kaupapa matters to you, start the year by taking action:
✉️ Write to the Minister of Education and the Education and Workforce Select Committee
📣 Share why Art History matters to you
🎨 Support students, teachers and arts communities across the motu

New year. Same message. Art History belongs in our schools.

Check out our website for more information on how to get involved and support the campaign!

Join the movement to preserve Art History in education. Learn why it's essential for cultural literacy, critical thinking, and fostering creativity for students nationwide.

22/12/2025

All we want for Christmas is to keep Art History in the curriculum 🎄

This year, we’re calling on the Government and the Ministry of Education to keep Art History as a standalone subject in secondary schools. One simple way to help? Write them a Christmas card (or email) and ask them to do the same.

You can also download our campaign toolkit here: https://www.savearthistory.co.nz/campaign-toolkit

Here are some powerful words from students, teachers, and arts professionals involved in the campaign to help get you started.

19/12/2025

WATCH: On 1 December, Museums Aotearoa welcomed art history student Lily Foster to Pōneke to present her Save Art History petition to Parliament.

The petition was formally handed over to Labour MPs Rachel Boyack MP and Willow-Jean Prime.

A huge thank you and congratulations to Lily for her dedication and tireless work to protect Art History for future generations. 💛

12/12/2025

We’re looking for an outstanding Office and Membership Manager.

Members - this is your point person at MA so please share widely across your networks!

Responsible for office operations, finances, CRM and member support for Museums Aotearoa while assisting the CEO and coordinating key projects.

12/12/2025

We’re hiring! If you know someone ready to step up and lead our sector, send them our way!

The CEO of Museums Aotearoa, Te Tari o Ngā Whare Taonga o Te Motu, is the chief advocate for the public museum and gallery sector in New Zealand.