Hon Peter Dunne
Minister of Internal Affairs

3 March 2016
New Zealand’s constitutional treasures to be more accessible

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne said planning is on track for the new constitutional exhibition to open at the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington during early 2017.

A design has been selected for the new exhibition which will enable greater access to our three most important constitutional documents: the 1835 Declaration of Independence of the Northern Chiefs/He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni; the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi /Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition.
Mr Dunne said the new exhibition has three principal objectives.

“The exhibition has been driven by the need to ensure our fragile and priceless documentary heritage is preserved for future generations as well as improve access to the documents for all New Zealanders and visitors to New Zealand. It will enhance opportunities for sharing knowledge about the on-going constitutional and cultural significance of the documents, especially for those aged between 10 and 15 years old.”

The three documents need the highest level of conservation and each presents unique preservation challenges. The Declaration is written on three sides of two pieces of paper, the Treaty is made up of nine different documents – two on parchment (processed animal skin) and seven on paper, and the Women’s Suffrage Petition is more than 500 sheets of paper, all glued together to form one continuous 274 metre-long roll.

“The exhibition will greatly improve the public’s access to these national tāonga. They will be displayed in a physically larger space, using more modern conservation technology and educational tools, with extended opening hours to six days per week.

“It will provide an on-site interpretative area and on-line learning experiences as well as opportunities for debate and reflection about how the three documents came to represent moments of pivotal historical significance in New Zealand’s development as a nation.

“There is much to celebrate about how we have progressed as a nation as a consequence of these documents, and also much for us all to keep talking about. This exhibition provides a focus for that to happen”, says Mr Dunne.

The exhibition has been developed in partnership with iwi Māori.

“I have worked closely with iwi leaders from throughout the country and Wellington manawhenua iwi leaders. A formal Māori Technical Advisory Group has provided valuable guidance for the development of the exhibition and a Women’s Suffrage Petition Advisory Group has also provided advice. “

Wellington-based company Story Inc has designed the exhibition, which will feature two distinct areas: a document room and an interpretive space. The room will have state-of-the-art conservation features, including environmentally controlled display cases. The interpretive area is designed to be a colourful and lively space with interactive features and learning areas for groups, particularly young people and school tours.

The current display arrangements for the documents in the Constitution Room at Archives New Zealand were developed more than 25 years ago and are no longer fit for purpose. The new exhibition is designed to be in place for at least another quarter of a century.
The project, including exhibition design and construction, has a budget of $6.7million over two years for capital spending.

For more information, go to dia.govt.nz/Archive-Exhibition-Project

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