A collection at risk

The Museum’s ability to meet the needs of the community and adequately care for an ever-growing collection has been compromised by a number of long-identified building and climate control issues. A recent collection valuation noted that some items were at risk and likely to fall in value if the climate control standards are not brought up to modern standards. Museum staff currently work around those issues by using fans and dehumidifiers in a number of locations around the facility, which at best is a temporary and only marginally successful solution.

The building’s space limitations are also impacting on the Museum’s ability to accept and store new collection items.

Currently, the community does not have adequate access to the Museum and its collections, due both to space and facility restrictions. The Museum typically receives over 40 research requests a month, many from visitors from around the country and overseas who wish to undertake family research. The limitations of the facility make it impossible to meet that demand. Meeting the needs of the education sector has also become increasingly difficult, due to the lack of facilities suitable for group use.

Redevelopment an urgent need

The Whakatāne District Council, the Museum Board of Control and the Museum and Arts team are proposing a major redevelopment project to address the urgent, building-related issues which are impacting on the Museum’s ability to protect, store and provide access to a collection of vital cultural and heritage importance to the District and the wider rohe o Mataatua.

Key objectives of the redevelopment are:

• Preserve, develop and enhance access to our collections for future generations
• Broaden the Museum’s audiences and provide inspiring and enriching experiences for our community
• Strengthen the Museum as a centre for research and understanding of the social, cultural, natural and artistic heritage of the Whakatāne District, on a local and national level
• Develop new and stronger relationships with our stakeholders
• Strengthen the Museum’s operations and capabilities and ensure that the organisation has the resources required to achieve its vision, mission and objectives

A redeveloped facility will enable the Museum to support proactive education programmes from primary to tertiary level and meet the needs of the 2,000-plus students attending Whakatāne’s high schools and tertiary institutions.