Abstract
The National Library of New Zealand set up the National Preservation Office Te Tari Tohu Taonga as a response to the fact that there are hundreds of important collections dispersed throughout New Zealand, often in isolated rural areas, without any access to preservation advice. The National Preservation Office Te Tari Tohu Taonga was set up in a bicultural framework with two conservators appointed, one conservator being Māori. The Office has identified key issues to address, which include nationwide workshops to raise the level of preservation awareness that help to empower communities to be able to effectively care for their collections. The paper addresses these key areas, such as the building environment and digital preservation, as well as looking at a series of care and handling workshops for smaller institutions within a context of establishing effective collection management. Workshops have also focused on particularly at-risk material such as photographs and architectural records. Crucial to any training is fostering good relationships with the community, providing accurate and up-to-date information and always articulating the link between preservation and access. One of the important achievements for the Office has been the setting up of Preservation Management courses within university courses. The Office has worked across all cultural heritage sectors. Within Māori communities the emphasis is on working in collaboration with other conservators, taking into account all aspects of preservation, including the buildings. Outreach to cultural institutions also includes the specific preservation needs of Pacific Island Nations.
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