POLICY | The Kauri Museum

POLICY

The Kauri Museum adheres to the Museums Aotearoa Code of Ethics.

Collections

The Kauri Museum policy is:

To strengthen and preserve its collections for the benefit of the people in our community and New Zealand as a whole.
To employ a suitably experienced Collections Manager who is responsible for the management of all aspects of the collection in consultation with the CEO, and in accordance with policies outlined in this document.
To instruct all Museum staff, in carrying out their duties, to apply the proper procedures in handling and care of items
To recognize that it has a responsibility as a holder and guardian of collections.
To allow opportunities for the maximum access to collections while ensuring that their physical and cultural well being is not threatened.
To acquire items only if it is able to provide adequate channels of public access.
To provide sufficient staff to make its collections accessible to the public.
To consult with appropriate peoples of ethnic, social and cultural groups, in the recreation of exhibitions, where appropriate.
That all items accepted by the Museum must be acquired in accordance with established procedures, and are properly and fully documented at the time of acquisition.
That all collection items should be appropriately cared for physically and spiritually, in accordance with Museum policies.

Acquisition

The Museum’s policy is to collect items of cultural property that record aspects of the kauri industry and local pioneers.
Items should be considered for acquisition on their respective merits and in accordance with this policy. Objects outside the bounds of this policy may be considered in special circumstances.
Where there are specific gaps in a collection within the Museum, which could be filled beneficially by specific acquisitions, then the Museum should attempt to make such acquisitions as the opportunity arises.
The Museum’s ability to care for, store and exhibit a potential acquisition, both now and in the future, taken into consideration as part of the acquisition process.
The Museum should attempt to ensure authentication of each item and that full provenance is available at the time of acquisition.
Legal title must be obtained for the items that the Museum acquires by purchase, gift or bequest.
Local Pioneers are considered to have settled or lived in the old Otamatea region, ideally between 1820-1945. Please refer to the maps of Otamatea attached in the appendix. Objects and documents pertaining to pioneers should only be considered if from this era and region. Acquisitions under consideration outside of this era and region; and relating to the pioneers of New Zealand are only to be accepted by the Curator.
Acquisitions under consideration relating to the kauri industry can be of any era or region; however it is preferred items are from Northland and from between 1820 and 1945.

Gifts and bequests

The Museum is entitled, but not bound, to accept any gift or bequest which conforms to the collection policy and meets the criteria for acquisition.
The donor must have legal title to the item in order to donate or bequeath it to the Museum.
Gifts and bequests should be donated unconditionally. However, in special circumstances the CEO will consult with the Collections Manager over any restrictions imposed upon an item.
The display of any item acquired by gift or bequest is at the sole discretion of the Museum.
The Museum has the right to dispose of the item, or items, in order to enhance other aspects of the collection. This may occur however and whenever the Museum deems appropriate; in accordance with the de-accessioning policy and procedure.

Loans

The Museum does not ordinarily accept loans of documents or objects as contributions towards the collection; unless loans are for short term exhibitions (up to four months).
Items for long-term loans should be accepted only in accordance with the acquisitions policy.
If an item is consistent with the Museum’s aims and objectives and it is not available by donation or purchase then a loan may be considered.
Items may be loaned for identification, evaluation and study purposes.
The Museum shall not acquire any item on long-term loan which it is not able to care for, store, catalogue and display adequately.
The Museum will take all reasonable care of the item on loan, but will accept no responsibility in the case of damage, destruction or theft.
If the item on loan is not already insured, the Museum will insure it to a nominated value agreeable to both the CEO and the owner.
If the item on loan is not already insured, the Museum will include it in the general insurance of its collection.
Documentation must take the same form as used for the permanent collection.
A long term loan may be for an indefinite time, but the loan arrangement will be reviewed periodically.
The status of the items on loan will be reviewed every five years. The review will consider three options:
Continuing the loan
Returning the item to the owner
Terminating the loan and transferring ownership to the Museum.
If the owner should become deceased, ownership of the item will transfer to the Museum unless specific alternative arrangements have been made.
The Museum reserves the right to return a loaned item at any time
At the end of the loan period, the Museum will take all reasonable steps to return the item to the owners.
Notification that the item is available to be returned will be sent by mail to the owners last known address. If the item is not claimed within six months, the Museum may dispose of the item as it sees fit.
If sold, proceeds from the sale will be held in trust for the owner, after deduction of the expenses of sale, for a period of 1 year from the date of sale.

Short Term Loans

A short term loan will be for a specified period of time. At the end of this time the item will be returned to the owner.
Photographs and documents can be loaned by the Museum for a short time (as agreed by Collections Manager and lender) for copying in accordance with the Copyright Act 1994. A Deed of Gift and accompanying documents must be completed to establish the rights of the Museum, the lender and the photographer/author.

Outward Loans

The Museum may at its discretion make objects in the collection available for loan.
The borrower must comply with conditions specified by the Museum
The loan of an item must not compromise its security or conservation needs.
The loan of an item shall only be permitted if the borrower is able to care for, store and display the object properly.
Loans should be in accordance with the aims, responsibilities and policies of the Museum.
Works held on long-term loan by the Museum may only be lent to another party with the prior approval of the owner.
The Collections Manager is responsible for monitoring documenting all loan movements

Purchases

The purchase of any item for the collection should be determined in accordance with the Collections Policy and available funds.
The CEO and Collections Manager shall consider items for purchase within the limitations of the Museum’s annual purchase fund allocation.

Ethical Considerations

The means of acquisition of an item destined for the Permanent Collection must conform to all the requirements of the law.
The physical and spiritual needs of an item should be catered for to the best of the Museum’s ability. Where there are not the appropriate resources within the Museum should consult such parties concerning appropriate protocols and follow them as far as possible.

Ownership

Items held in the Permanent Collection of the Museum are owned by The Otamatea Kauri & Pioneer Museum Trust Board.

Disposal/De-accessioning

The Museum must establish that it has legal title to any item of cultural property that it wishes to de-accession.
De-accessioning may be used by the Museum to improve the quality and usefulness of the collection. This process allows for the removal of items which fall outside the criteria of the acquisition policy.
The Museum should attempt to ensure that an item to be de-accessioned, which is of national significance, should be retained within New Zealand.
The de-accessioning of an item should be carefully considered with equal regard given to the following issues:
Conformity to the acquisitions policy
Means of acquisition
Value as a potential outgoing loan
Curatorial priority
Educational value
Usefulness to the exhibitions programme
Number of similar works in the collection
Resources needed to maintain the work
Amount of storage space needed
Conservation needs
If considered necessary, independent expertise should be sought to evaluate the item proposed for de-accessioning
Where an outside source has provided financial assistance for an acquisition, the Museum should consult such parties, as a matter of etiquette but not as a matter of right, to seek their consent where possible. However, if the Museum has the legal ownership of an object it may decide to proceed with the de-accession without the consent of such parties.
If an item was originally gifted to the Museum it should first be offered to the donor, if possible.
Any item to be de-accessioned should be offered first by gift, exchange or private sale, to other Museums where appropriate, before sale by other means is considered.
Any item in the collection that has been identified as a fake or forgery, or as having illegal, immoral or unethical aspects to its previous ownership and/or provenance may be de-accessioned.
The de-accessioning of an item of cultural property shall not knowingly contravene New Zealand Law, any international agreements to which New Zealand is a party, or the Code of Ethics outlined for The Museums of New Zealand.
The generation of revenue may not be the main reason to de-accession any item from the collection.
Revenue arising from the de-accessioning of collection items should be used for the purchase of further items of cultural property for the collection.
Full records should be made by the Collections Manager concerning decisions and procedures involved in the de-accessioning of any item.
Copies of appropriate documentation should be transferred with the item but the Museum should retain the originals.
The decision to de-accession an item must be made in consultation with the Board of Trustees.

Exhibition

That exhibitions and events aim to promote understanding of the local cultural, historical and social significance of the Kauri Industry and local Pioneers.
That it be general policy to conduct an exhibition programme consistent with the aims, responsibilities and policies of the Museum.
The exhibitions and events aim to enhance and expand communication between The Museum and its audiences, whilst supporting the local community.
The Collections Manager is to have control of exhibition display.
Preventative conservation methods should be observed in all exhibition planning and should be integrated into all procedures.
All items on display should be properly labelled, or credited by other means, including details of title, date of the work, purchase/donor details.
The design policy should establish visual consistency and be adhered to in the creation of all Museum exhibition.
Public Health and safety should be integral factors in all events plans.
Where possible, events programmes will be considered as an extension of exhibitions.
If appropriate, events should be planned to coincide with local or national events.
Where it is relevant to the overall programme and policies of the Museum, touring exhibitions from New Zealand and overseas will be presented.
Items on display should be appropriately contextualized with consideration given to:
The circumstances in which the item was created
The item’s intended use at the time of creation.
Spiritual value placed on the object by any groups within the community.

Events and Exhibitions

Areas that are available to the public include:
All exhibition and gallery spaces
The Museum’s historic buildings
The Shop and foyer
Public Toilets and facilities
Preventative conservation procedures should be observed at all times, in accordance with the conservation policy.
Clear signage should be implemented when gallery spaces are unavailable to the public.
Every effort should be made to keep as many galleries as possible open to the public.
It is the responsibility of all Museum staff, under the guidance of the Collections Manager, to maintain exhibition spaces to the highest possible standards.
All Museum staff should be vigilant and report any malfunction in an exhibitions or public area including but not limited to:
All lights are turned on and functioning
All exhibits are secure and in position
All labels are present, in their correct positions and good condition
All flowers and greenery are fresh
All equipment is in good working order
Glass and Perspex is clean and free from fingerprints
Information holders are well stocked.
The exhibition design and layout should be in accordance with the Museum’s obligations under the Health and Safety Act, May 2003.
Walkways must, at all times, be clear, especially when displays are being erected.
Visitors must be able to view photographs and displays easily.
Where practicable, maintenance and cleaning work should be carried out before or after the Museum’s opening hours.
Individual owners of works on loan from private collections will be credited only upon request.
Where works have been gifted to the Museum, the label should acknowledge the donor where appropriate.
Labels should be presented in an easily accessible manner, both visually and linguistically.
Care should be taken to avoid discrimination of any peoples.
No exhibition shall be decided upon without mutual agreement of the CEO and Collections Manager.
The exhibition and events programme for the Museum shall be decided annually.
Promotional material shall be an integral part of the Museum’s exhibitions and events programmes. This should include press releases, photographic images and accurate information where possible.

Loans for Exhibitions

Items may be loaned from public and private sources in order to enhance and create relevant exhibitions.
The CEO should be advised of any wish to borrow an item for use in an exhibition.
Items may not be received on loan or use in exhibitions if undue restrictions are
placed on their use, or the items are at risk because of their condition.
Any items received on loan for exhibitions will be the responsibility of the Collections Manager, who will be in charge of the items’ documentation, including full condition reports of the object.
In the event of damage or loss to an item on loan, Museum staff should not claim liability or enter into negotiations with the owner. Such actions are the responsibility of the insurer.

Accessibility

The Collections and relevant records should be developed in order to provide a resource for research and the provision of exhibitions and public education programmes.
As far as possible, access to material not on display should be made available to researchers and visitors.
Photographs by visitors of general scenes within the Museum are permitted but photographs of specific photographs or exhibits are allowed only for private research and study to comply with copyright requirements.

Conservation

Preventative conservation methods should be implemented at all times in the storage and handling of the collections.
The Collections Manager is responsible for ensuring that all items are stored according to the correct museological procedures and collections policy.
Thermohygrographs and data loggers should be checked regularly by the Buildings Manager and/or Collections; and recorded and information distributed.
Light levels in exhibition areas should be set at the suitable level for the items on display, or as directed by loaner where appropriate.
Where necessary, a relevant professional conservator should be consulted to assess the conservation needs of items on display.
Conservation of items in the collection should be carried out by a professional conservator, with relevant expertise.
When the item is of physical or spiritual significance to any ethnic, cultural or social peoples, advice concerning its conservation and presentation should be sought as appropriate.
Conservation work or treatment to an item shall not be carried out on any item on loan to the Museum without full written permission of the owner.

Handling

For the preservation of items in the collection or on loan, correct and careful handling of objects is crucial.
All items of cultural property, both in the permanent collection and on loan, are worthy of the same care in handling irrespective of monetary value or the handler’s personal opinions of the item
All members of the staff have a responsibility to follow the handling procedures correctly.
Procedures for handling items of cultural property will be determined by the Collection Manager in accordance with recommendations made by a conservator.
Any damage to an item of cultural property must be reported to the Collections Manager as soon possible following the event, and be fully documented.
Gloves should be worn at all times when handling an item.

Movement of Collection Items

The Collections Manager should supervise any movements of items and ensure that an appropriate number of staff are present to assist.
The movement of items should be recorded in the collection records including the reason for the move and details of the new location
Items of cultural significance should be given due care and attention in relation to correct protocol.
All items should be cared for physically and spiritually in accordance with their cultural requirements and the Museum’s policies.

Legislative Requirements and Statutory Obligations

As with all New Zealand Museums, Libraries and Galleries; The Kauri Museum acknowledges and adheres to the Treaty of Waitangi (1840). The Museum also seeks to carry out daily best practice by being aware of and working in accordance to the following legislative requirements:

Conservation Act 1994
Health and Safety Employment Act 1992
Historic Places Act 1993
Privacy Act 1993
Protected Objects act 1975, 2006
Public Records Act
Resource Management Act 1991
Museums Aotearoa Code of Ethics and Professional Practice 2013

Responsibilities

The Museum Trust Board are responsible for the care of the Museum and the Museum artifacts. The Curator and Collections Manager consider, accept and decline donations; and refer to The Trust Board for guidance in the acceptance of large and/or expensive items.

Onsite WiFi

The Kauri Museum provides Internet access at no charge in selected areas for visitors with wireless capable devices.

Visitors are expected to use the wireless access in a responsible manner and, by using this wireless access network, the user acknowledges that he/she is subject and agrees to abide by all laws and regulations applicable to Internet use. The Terms of use may be modified from time to time and must be accepted each time a user chooses to use the Service. It is the user’s responsibility to review them for changes each time.

Terms and conditions of use

The user agrees that the following actions may be taken with or without notice:

Any aspect of the Service may be discontinued or suspended;
Services may be substituted;
New connection limits may be instituted, including limitations on the speed, quantity and quality of connections;
Outgoing SMTP email connections or the use of any particular ports or protocols may be blocked;
Addresses may be blocked for any reason.

is not harmful to others;
does not infringe the rights of any person or entity (e.g. copyright, confidentiality);
does not threaten, harass, abuse or intimidate others;
is not defamatory, obscene, indecent, offensive, objectionable, fraudulent or deceptive
does not damage The Kauri Museum’s name or reputation;
is not for the purpose of sending unsolicited emails, breaking the security on any computer network, or accessing an account which does not belong to you;
does not interfere with other peoples’ use and enjoyment of the Service and all other Museum services. This includes use of headphones when listening to music or multimedia and the observation of The Kauri Museum’s conditions of entry.
does not breach any law including the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act 2011.
Addresses may be blocked for any reason.

Security considerations

Wireless access is by nature an insecure medium. As with most guest wireless networks, any information being sent or received over The Kauri Museum’s wireless network could potentially be intercepted by another wireless user.
Cautious and informed wireless users should not transmit their credit card information, passwords and any other sensitive personal information while using a wireless “hot spot”. Users assume all associated risks and agree to not hold The Kauri Museum and its employees liable for any personal information (e.g. credit card) that is compromised, or for any damage caused to users’ hardware or software due to electric surges, security issues or consequences caused by viruses or hacking.
All wireless access users should have up-to-date virus protection on their personal devices, as well as staying up-to-date with applicable OS security patches.

Privacy

Any information that is collected by The Kauri Museum during the provision of this service is for the purposes of operation of the Service, to maintain quality of the Service, to provide general statistics regarding use of the Service, to assist us to deliver customised content and help improve the overall visitor experience.

Agreement

By clicking on the continue button, you are entering into a binding agreement. Your access is subject to the aforementioned terms and conditions and all applicable laws. If you do not wish to be bound by these terms, please select the decline button.

Please note: The Kauri Museum reserves the right to cancel a user’s WiFi privileges if the system is abused in any way.