Open letter to Archives NZ regarding closure of Te Maeatanga Digitisation Programme
The Chief Archivist
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
10 Mulgrave Street
Pipitea
Wellington 6011
Monday 24 June, 2024
Tēnā koe Anahera,
I am writing on behalf of the National Digital Forum (NDF) to express our profound concern regarding the imminent closure of Archives New Zealand’s Te Maeatanga Digitisation Programme and the associated Te whakamatihiko ā-tono Digitisation on demand service, effective 30 June 2024.
The Te Maeatanga Digitisation Programme has played a crucial role in preserving and providing public access to Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural and historical records. This programme has not only safeguarded our heritage but has also enhanced digital interaction with our culture and history, a core objective of the NDF community.
The decision to end the digitisation programme and disestablish related positions seems at odds with Te Rautaki Rua Mahara 2057 strategy which speaks to greater access, growth in digital records and building effective technology and expertise.
The digitisation of archival records has allowed New Zealanders to engage and connect with their cultural heritage. Ending this programme halts progress in making cultural and historical records widely accessible and preserved for future generations as well as reducing equitable access to public records and hindering the public’s ability to engage with their history.
Digitisation protects the physical integrity of fragile records. The cessation of this programme compromises the preservation of our nation’s heritage. As volatile environmental factors are increasing the risks to our physical taonga, institutions are seeking to increase their investment in mitigating digital preservation methods.
The sector depends on digitisation to modernise and expand its reach, as well as facilitate cooperation and collaboration. The programme has developed significant expertise and infrastructure since its inception in 2017. This has served the cultural sector well beyond just the outputs of the programme itself. Losing this capability would be a substantial setback for the wider sector.
As the opening of the new Wellington archival facility, Heke Rua Archives, approaches, it is imperative to consider the long-term benefits of maintaining a robust digitisation programme. This world-class facility's potential can only be fully realised with continued support for digitisation efforts.
We acknowledge the fiscal constraints faced by Archives New Zealand but strongly believe that investing in digitisation is essential for the effective operations and strategic success of a national archive. We urge you to reconsider this decision and explore all possible avenues to secure ongoing funding for the Te Maeatanga Digitisation Programme and the Te whakamatihiko ā-tono Digitisation on demand service.
NDF supports and celebrates the work of Archives New Zealand. We stand ready to support Archives New Zealand and help in any way we can to find sustainable solutions that ensure the continuation and expansion of your digitisation efforts and digital access services.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Teina Herzer
Executive Director, NDF
On behalf of the NDF Board and members
Footnote:
Please note that Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) staff who are members of the National Digital Forum (NDF) board recused themselves from participating in the drafting of this open letter.