The Archives Council
The Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga is an unincorporated body established under the Public Records Act 2005 to provide advice to the Minister responsible for Archives New Zealand on recordkeeping and archives matters including those for which tikanga Māori is relevant.
The inaugural Council was appointed on 31 August 2006 and consists of seven members, two of whom have knowledge of tikanga Māori.
The Council reports directly to the Minister on its functions during the preceding year. The Minister, as soon as practicable, presents the report to the House of Representatives.
Archives Council members with Archives New Zealand Chief Executive Dianne Macaskill (seated right) and Francoise Lafferty-Hancock (back left), absent Ani Pahuru-Huriwai.
Working with the Archives Council
The Archives Council meets four times a year to discuss archival and record keeping matters. Since its establishment the Archives Council has developed a Council Charter (RTF 123 kb) and has provided advice to the Minister on the disposal of some of Archives New Zealand’s own records.
The Council sees developing relationships with groups with common interests as an important way to achieve its goals. So far the Council has met with Penny Carnaby, Chief Executive of the National Library of New Zealand, Martin Matthews, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and recently met with the New Zealand Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC) and the Guardians Kaitiaki.
The Archives Council’s first Annual Report (
124 kb) is now available or you can obtain a printed copy by contacting francoise.lafferty-hancock@archives.govt.nz
Contact the Archives Council: archivescouncil@archives.govt.nz or telephone Francoise Lafferty-Hancock, Archives New Zealand, phone 04 894 6065.
Richard Nottage CNZM
Archives Council Chairperson Richard, from Wellington, is a former career diplomat and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1991-1999). His current directorships include: Deputy Chairman of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. He brings extensive experience in the areas of governance and accountability, leadership and a strong strategic focus to the Council.
Theresa Graham
Theresa Graham, from Auckland, is the Heritage Manager of Auckland City Libraries. She is a co-founder of the Auckland Heritage Librarians and Archivists Group and was made a Fellow of the Library and Information Association New Zealand in 2002.
Mel Smith CNZM
Mel Smith CNZM is from Wellington. He is currently an Ombudsman and the former Secretary for Justice. He has extensive public service and knowledge in the areas of governance and accountability.
Dr Monty Soutar (Ngati Porou, Ngati Awa)
He is a Director of Gisborne’s Tairawhiti Museum. He was previously a Fellow in Māori History at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and has served as a member of the Māori Advisory Board for the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. He is also a member of the Guardians of the Alexander Turnbull Librarian
Ani Pahuru-Huriwai (Ngati Porou)
Ani Pahuru-Huriwai is from Wharekahika (Hicks Bay) and has been a member of Te Pae Whakawairua, Archives’ Māori Consultative Group. She has carried out research on the establishment of marae-based archive repositories and was formerly Co-Director of the Bachelor of Māori and Information Management at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. She is also a former Tumuaki of Te Ropu Whakahau, and LIANZA Council member.
Stuart Strachan QSO
Stuart Strachan is from Dunedin. He has held the position of Hocken Librarian at the University of Otago for over 20 years. He is a member of the Archives & Records Association of New Zealand, the UK Society of Archivists, the New Zealand Historical Association and the National Digital Forum Advisory Group.
Rachel Lilburn
Rachel Lilburn is from Wellington. She is a lecturer at the School of Information Management at Victoria University, and a past Wellington Branch chairperson and member of the Archives and Records Association of New Zealand.