Heritage education a ‘top priority’, says new museum manager

The new Marlborough Museum manager says her top priority is to “explore ways that museum education can continue” in the region.

Dr Liz Ward, who starts in her role on July 1, said she was disappointed to hear the Marlborough heritage education programme had lost its Ministry of Education funding.

Ward planned to review the programme in preparation for the next funding round, she said.

Ward had a PhD in New Zealand history and extensive experience in the heritage and history sector, having worked on a variety of projects and lectured in New Zealand History at Massey University.

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One of the recent projects she worked on was funded by the Ministry of Education and assessed the capability of the museum sector to support the Aotearoa Histories Curriculum.

“This work gave me an extensive overview of the museum sector and a good understanding of the potential within museums,” she said.

Ward was keen to work with volunteers, historians, iwi and locals and partner with the wider heritage community to develop a strategic vision for the Marlborough heritage sector.

“Marlborough has so much wonderful history, which is not only significant to local historians but also important in our national story,” she said. “I believe we can attract people from all over New Zealand and the world to learn about the central role of the Marlborough region in the history of New Zealand.”

Ward’s appointment comes after a Marlborough District Council review into the struggling Marlborough Heritage Trust, an umbrella organisation set up in 2014 to “govern” the region’s heritage assets. In 2016, the Marlborough Historical Society signed over its assets to the trust, including the Marlborough Museum.

The review led to a sweeping restructure of the sector, with the council proposing to wind up the trust and take over management duties, including taking over the staff at the Marlborough Museum, at Brayshaw Park, and the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum in Picton.

The new Marlborough Museum team included a curator of archives, collections manager and museum co-ordinator. At the Edwin Fox, Karen McLeod and her staff were staying on.

The shake-up took some in the sector by surprise, and prompted a submission to the council’s annual plan process.

That submission, which was presented on Wednesday, urged the council to take “no further action” regarding the transfer of assets “pending proper consultation” with the wider heritage community.

It also asked the council – as its “most immediate request” – to underwrite the heritage education programme until the end of the year, and to help win back ministry funding going forward.

Council project lead arts, culture and heritage Nicci Neilson said part of Ward’s future focus would include working with Marlborough schools to identify their education needs and plan a path forward.

Neilson and Ward would be working together in the lead up to next year’s long-term plan and would develop a strategic vision for the Marlborough Museum and Edwin Fox Maritime Museum.

In partnership with the Marlborough Historical Society, they would undertake an audit of assets and refresh exhibitions, Neilson said.

Despite the recent unrest in the sector, Ward said she was excited about her new role and was looking forward to working with the local community to build a positive and welcoming atmosphere.

“I can’t wait to start,” she said. “I love history and I love museums, and I see the museums as the interface between those of us who have a deep love and knowledge of history and the public who want to know more.”

Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor said it was wonderful to have Ward on board and was looking forward to seeing the strategic work she would lead in the heritage sector.

“As a history graduate myself, I understand the value heritage brings to our community,” she said.

The Marlborough Museum will close temporarily on July 1 to allow for a short transition period. The archives and research facility will remain open by appointment.