New way of working for Archives NZ and National Library proposed
21 November 2024
Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs, is announcing proposed organisational changes to bring Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand and Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa National Library closer together in the way they work.
The Poumanaaki Chief Archivist, Anahera Morehu, and Te Pouhuaki National Librarian, Rachel Esson, are leading this change, which will ensure the public have improved access to services, resources and expertise across Archives and National Library.
“This proposed new way of working is an opportunity for us to collaborate more closely to deliver shared services and resources while addressing current and future challenges,” says Rachel Esson.
It is proposed to bring Te Rua Mahara and Te Puna Mātauranga under joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian, and to replace the current structures with a new one that enables collaboration while maintaining the unique purpose of each institution. While there are large number of positions being disestablished, many new positions are being created and the overall total reduction is 27 positions.
The statutory roles of the Chief Archivist, the National Librarian, Chief Librarian Alexander Turnbull Library remain unchanged.
“While we are proposed to remain as separate institutions, we want to optimise our resources to ensure we can meet the future needs of New Zealanders and deliver core services, which are vital for a thriving Aotearoa, in the most effective way. It has taken time, but it’s about how we best position ourselves for the future,” says Anahera Morehu.
This work is happening in the context of wider departmental and public sector changes. Although the work started before the government’s directive on fiscal sustainability, it has been able to take advantage of the shared services ambitions to make the most efficient use of public money.
Today, a consultation pack has been sent to Archives New Zealand and National Library staff following an all-staff meeting for both institutions. It includes the proposed new way of collaborative working, an explanation of its structure, timelines for consultation from 21 November through to 16 December. Consultation closes on 16 December 2024. Decisions and implementation are expected from early March 2025.
This proposed change will ensure that when the new state-of-the-art building opens to the public in Wellington from 2026 the public will have improved access to taonga and shared services.
Media contact:
Media Desk
Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs
Mobile: +64 27 535 8639
Email: media@dia.govt.nz
