Toronoa Pakiakatia | Stretching Deep

Conservators & Curators workforce development plan

Aotearoa needs to invest in training more indigenous conservators and curators to preserve and care for the thousands of nationally significant taonga held in museums, iwi and Pacific collections and other cultural institutions.

Torona Pakiakatia, the draft Māori and Pacific Conservators and Curators Workforce Development Plan (WDP), addresses this critical need for indigenous perspectives in the culture and heritage sector.

This plan has been developed to ensure taonga are preserved, treated and cared for in ways that honour tikanga, mātauranga and indigenous whakapapa.

The research reveals that combining indigenous knowledge with Western conservation methods produces the best outcomes for preserving taonga, ensuring cultural values are honoured while applying necessary technical expertise.

Click the buttons below to read the draft plan, and have your say by filling out the survey. Consultation closes Sunday 10 August 2025.

Conservators and Curators WDP summary (PDF)

Read the full Conservators and Curators WDP (PDF)

Provide feedback via survey on the Conservators and Curators WDP

Image credit: 2776: Ipu ngārahu Te Awamutu Museum Collection