FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 24 MAY 2017
Auckland War Memorial Museum wins two national awards
Last night Auckland Museum was recognised with two awards at the annual 2017 ServiceIQ New Zealand Museum Awards, held
at a gala function after the MA17 Museums Aotearoa conference, He Waka Eke Noa – Museums of Inclusion.
Volume: Making Music in Aotearoa, Auckland Museum’s exhibition of New Zealand music which closed on Sunday with a visitation figure of 208,000 people,
received the inaugural Museum Shops Association of Australia & New Zealand award for ‘Best New Range’ for its range of Volume merchandise created specifically for the Volume Pop-up Shop.
The judges commended the range for its use of local suppliers, environmental consciousness, clear and cohesive design,
and its variety of price points and product types catering to a broad range of customers.
The Volume compilation albums, co-produced with Sony Music, were commended by judges as “A great innovation in the industry and
the clear process to establish credits to the musicians is commended.”
Retail Manager Lisa Varga says, “It’s exciting to win the inaugural Best New Range award. We pride ourselves on working
with local artisans to offer our customers high quality New Zealand made products inspired by our major exhibitions.”
The Museum’s bilingual natural sciences education programme Mana Aotūroa won the ‘Most Innovative use of Te Reo Māori’
award, and judges called it, “An incredibly rich and well thought through programme…to teach the wonders of natural
sciences in Te Reo Māori.” The programme was made possible through the support of The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment’s Unlocking Curious Minds Fund.
Mana Aotūroa programme leader Johnny Hui says “It’s wonderful for the pilot programme to be recognised nationally by the
judges. The programme combines the knowledge from our Natural Sciences curators with our bilingual outreach educators
working in schools around Auckland, and effectively uses technology to bring our collections to life and inspire
curiosity in the tamariki of this city.”
“Auckland Museum is delighted to be recognised nationally for its innovation in delivering compelling Museum experiences
to its many publics” says Megan McSweeney, Director Business, External Affairs and Tourism.
The 2017 ServiceIQ New Zealand Museum Awards award the best and most innovative exhibitions, programmes and museum
projects in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Volume was developed with the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame Trust (APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ), and is amplified by SPARK.
ENDS