Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of David Reeves as Tumu Whakarae
Chief Executive.
Reeves has been the Director of Collections and Research at Auckland Museum since 2011, a role in which he has led
transformational change in the Museum’s curatorial, collections and conservation practices. As a member of the Museum’s
executive team, he has led innovative digital collection access projects, contributed to major building projects and
been a driving force behind a number of meaningful cultural developments.
Reeves was raised in the small Manawatu settlement of Aokautere and attended Awatapu College. He studied Architecture at
Victoria University of Wellington and Professional Photography and Museum Studies at Massey University. With a career
spanning more than 35 years, Reeves has extensive experience across Aotearoa’s cultural sector and has held senior roles
at major institutions including the Alexander Turnbull Library, Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Art Gallery and Museum of New
Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
His contributions to the community are far-ranging and span decades. His current professional affiliations and Board
appointments include his role as trustee and Deputy Chair of UNESCO Memory of the World NZ committee and Board member of
Museums Aotearoa, the national membership and advocacy body for the museum sector, trustee of the Rule Foundation, a
philanthropic charity supporting rainbow communities, and past co-Chair of GALS, Auckland’s rainbow choir.
Reeves brings fresh perspectives on the galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM) sector to the Chief Executive
role, alongside a keen interest in how the sector is responding to and utilising the digital environment. He is a strong
believer in working proactively and collaboratively with allied organisations to achieve the Museum’s aims in advancing
understandings about our social and natural worlds. Reeves is also focused on strengthening the Museum’s bicultural
approach to its work and engagement with communities.
Previously in his career, Reeves has been a member and Chair of the Library and Information Advisory Commission, and
member and Deputy Chair of the Archives Council, in both roles advising Government on policy matters and issues facing
the library, archive and record-keeping sectors. He is a past Council member of the Australasian Registrars’ Committee,
the professional body of museum registrars and collection managers in Australia and New Zealand, where he led the
revision of the constitution to formally include Aotearoa. Prior to this, he sat on the National Digital Forum Steering
Committee, Museum Qualifications Working Group, NZ Registrars’ Network, and was a trustee of the Thorndon Trust and
Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand.
Auckland Museum Trust Board Chair Professor Richard Bedford says, “It is a privilege to appoint such a talented and
innovative employee to lead the museum as we develop our next strategic plan, which will take us to 2029 – the centenary
of our time on this sacred site and war memorial on Pukekawa.”
“The Board’s vision is to ensure that Tāmaki Paenga Hira continues its journey to becoming a bicultural Museum,
supporting an inclusive society of engaged and informed communities in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa and the Pacific.”
“We are confident that David Reeves has the experience, passion and commitment to deliver this ambitious goal,” says
Bedford.
Taumata-a-Iwi Chair Precious Clark says, “We are excited to continue to support David in his leadership of Tāmaki Paenga
Hira. The Taumata-ā-Iwi has built a high trust relationship with David over the years, and values his support and
advocacy of kaupapa Māori, taonga Māori and our Māori staff at the Museum.”
“We look forward to collaborating with David to shift Tāmaki Paenga Hira into being a bicultural organisation of the
future. We are confident that his institutional knowledge, empathy, commitment and intelligence will provide us with the
right leadership to achieve our strategic vision,” says Clark.
On his appointment Reeves says, “I am excited to be taking up a new role at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial
Museum at this pivotal time for our city and wider communities. Museums have a vital role to play in helping people
examine, enjoy and understand their cultural and natural contexts.”
“Auckland War Memorial Museum is a very special place with a rich history and extraordinary collections; it will be a
great pleasure to lead our talented team over the next few years, realising more of the potential that the Museum has to
offer. I also look forward to building upon key relationships with sector colleagues and our main funder, Auckland
Council.”
Reeves has been Interim Chief Executive for the Museum since the departure of former Director, Dr David Gaimster in
June. He formally commences the permanent position on 1 September.