29 November 2008
Media Release
Scottish Museum Colleagues Visit New Zealand
The cultural world is about to get a little better connected with an exciting upcoming visit from staff of Museums
Galleries Scotland. In partnership with National Services Te Paerangi (NSTP) of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa
Tongarewa (Te Papa) and Tourism New Zealand, colleagues from Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) are visiting New Zealand
to present some of their innovative and exciting projects, and to discuss how New Zealand can get involved. The MGS
representatives will be in Waipu, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, from 29 November to 8 December 2008.
The Scottish visitors will begin the visits by introducing the Scottish Emigration Museum project, a unique virtual
resource. When completed it will offer a passionate account of the Scottish emigration story, drawing on materials held
in archives, libraries and museums in Scotland and Diaspora countries. The second part is a look at '100% Pure
Experiences' − Tourism New Zealand's promise to attract visitors to New Zealand, and a discussion of what this means for
museums and galleries and the role of cultural tourism in New Zealand. The last part of the day highlights Show
Scotland, an incredibly successful annual ‘big events weekend’, co-ordinated by Museums Galleries Scotland which sees
museums and galleries across the country opening their doors for a wonderful variety of events.
Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland says "The history of Scottish emigration is a treasure trove of
fascinating stories, and the close connections between Scotland and New Zealand are key to many of these stories. We are
looking forward to working with Museums, Galleries, Libraries and Archives throughout New Zealand to ascertain the scope
of Scottish-related material held throughout the country, and uncovering the remarkable stories that are waiting to be
told." Tracy Puklowski, General Manager of National Services Te Paerangi, adds “Scotland and the Scottish are dear to
the hearts of many New Zealanders, and it is a relationship and a heritage that we see reflected in many of the
country's collections. National Services Te Paerangi is keen to explore opportunities for collaboration and
information-sharing between galleries, libraries, archives, and museums in our respective countries”.
Both women see this visit as a first step in establishing a number of contacts that might create further collaborative
opportunities in the future.
Museums Galleries Scotland visits:
Waipu:
Saturday 29th November, 10am – 3.50pm
Presbyterian Church Hall, bus centre, Waipu, by the monument and carpark
Auckland:
Monday 1st December, 10am - 3.50pm
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Wellington:
Thursday 4th December, 10am - 3.50pm
National Library Conference Room
Christchurch:
Friday 5th December, 10am- 3.50pm
Philip Carter Family Auditorium, Christchurch Art Gallery
Dunedin:
Monday 8th December, 10am - 3.50pm
Dunedin Public Art Gallery Conference Room.
ENDS