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David Reeves - CEO Auckland Museum
Our speaker at Tuesdays meeting at Remuera Golf Club was David Reeves DEO of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Prior to taking up his role as CEO David had worked at the Alexander Turnbull Library, Te Papa, and eventually the Auckland Museum.
David mentioned the challenges faced by the museum, including a significant asbestos issue that required the closure of parts of the building. The discovery of the asbestos contamination caused by previous asbestos removal has led to the temporary closure of the museum, but it has since reopened with limited galleries. The museum is working on a long-term plan to remove the asbestos, which involves dismantling an old ceiling and setting up scaffolding to get at the more remote bits of the ceilings. David spoke of the historical roots of museums and their evolving role in society. He emphasized the core values of museums: trust, comparison, and facilitation. He noted that museums are seen as sites of comparison, where different contexts and ages are brought together to learn from differences. The unique raw material of museums includes the expertise of staff, volunteers, and the relationships they build. David spoke about museum engagement, focusing on visitation, inquiry, research, and broadcast. He mentioned the importance of museums in facilitating new knowledge and working with partners to broaden their reach. The museum has around 6 million items in its collection, and David emphasizes the need to engage with these collections in various ways. To do this, the museum through it's staff is exploring new ways to engage with schools and the education sector, recognizing the untapped potential in this area. On the subject of cultural diversity and inclusivity David highlighteds the museum's role in collecting and enhancing an understanding of difference. He shared an example of an exhibition (focusing on bags) called "Carried Away," which explored the concept of carrying things and the common threads across different cultures. The museum is unique in having both a civic museum and a provincial war memorial combined in one building. It is important that we understanding the legacy of past conflicts and the role of museums in reflecting on these issues. David outlines the museum's strategic direction for the next decade, focusing on the impact and value it aims to provide to Auckland. The museum is seeking to foster social cohesion and provide space for respectful and informed conversations. It aims to deepen understanding of the natural environment and offer examples of how people can make a difference. The museum is committed to broadening the voices telling Maori stories and adding authentic, genuine voices to its collections. An important element of the Museum's operation is community engagement and the role of volunteers in the museum's success. The museum has introduced a new fiber and textile center, Ta Ahmu Tokore, to connect with communities and descendants of those who made the collections. It runs various programs, including after-hours functions, lecture series, and educational programs for schools. David suggested that we should visit the museum and take advantage of the ongoing exhibitions and programs.
David talked about the Auckland Museum's Community Engagement and Digital Initiatives. He spoke of the museum's role as an engine of ideas and activities, emphasizing its impact beyond the museum walls. David noted the museum has successfully collaborated with Wikipedia through Creative Commons licensing, making its collection images available globally, resulting in significant engagement. Summer student programs have been focused on enhancing Auckland's Wikipedia pages, contributing to 2121.5 million views and improving local history accessibility. Keeping up with the times the museum launched a podcast to share deeper stories about collection objects, making the museum's collections accessible to the community outside the building. David talked about the Museum's community outreach and natural science programs He highlighted the museum's community outreach programs, particularly with natural science teams engaging local schools in fieldwork. Going forward the museum plans to rejuvenate the middle floor, focusing on the natural environment and the impact of agriculture on New Zealand's economy. It aims to present scientific evidence alongside Māori perspectives, fostering understanding and community empowerment. The initial thoughts for the new gallery are that it will focus on local projects to inspire positive action and counteract the "doom complex" among teenagers. Additionally, there is a need to renew the Maori and Pacific galleries, which will be over 30 years old by 2029, to reflect contemporary narratives and stories. The museum plans to launch a national fundraising campaign, focusing on Auckland, to support the renewal project. The discovery of asbestos has delayed the project, but the museum remains determined to complete the renewal in time for the centenary. The renewal will include infrastructure changes to enhance the visitor experience and ensure the building's vitality. In his concluding comments, David reflected on the museum's historical beginnings, starting as a temporary post office and evolving into a museum over 100 years ago. The museum's initial focus was on collecting mementos of Cook's voyage, weapons, clothing, and industrial samples. The museum has evolved to become a place for exploring interconnections, promoting research and creativity, and fostering reconciliation. David was thanked by Warwick Leyland 
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