Previous conferences
Delve into the archives of previous Museums Aotearoa annual conferences. You can also find presentations on our YouTube channel.
MA19: Ko Aotearoa Tēnei - This is New Zealand
22-24 May 2019, Wellington, New Zealand
“The kaupapa for the 2019 Museums Aotearoa Conference drew from the landmark WAI262 Waitangi Tribunal report, Ko Aotearoa Tēnei (This is New Zealand). This whole-of-government review, issued in 2011, recommended wide-ranging reforms to legislation and policies that affected Crown-Māori relations across government departments and agencies, including significant statements on tino rangatiratanga, intellectual property and mātauranga Māori ā iwi, ā hapu. It was also the first Tribunal report to consider what the Treaty relationship between Māori and the Crown might become in the post-Treaty settlement era, and how that relationship might shape and change Aotearoa New Zealand over the next half century.”
MA19 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
View MA19 talks - Museums Aotearoa on YouTube
MA18: Outside Insights
20-23 May 2018, Christchurch, New Zealand
“Museum practice is enriched by connecting with people working outside the museum sector and applying their insights. In the post-quake Christchurch transformation we've pulled together and learnt from others. This conference presents inspirational speakers who offer perspectives on place-making, alternative ways of working, and the role of cultural institutions in a rapidly changing world.”
MA18 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
View MA18 talks - Museums Aotearoa on YouTube
MA17: He waka Eke Noa - Museums Of Inclusion
22-24 May 2017, Palmerston North, New Zealand
“How do we make our institutions more inclusive – accessible to everyone? Who is not included now? What would full inclusion look like? Come and be encouraged, challenged and inspired by industry experts, colleagues and invited participants at MA17.”
MA17 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
View MA17 talks - Museums Aotearoa on YouTube
MA16 - Museums Australasia
15-19 May 2016, Auckland, New Zealand
"Museums and galleries add public value. They are reliant on their visitors, communities, funders, stakeholders and each other for their continued existence. How do we ensure that museums and galleries are sustainable and maintain relevance to these stakeholders today and into the future?"
MA16 was the first joint conference of Museums Aotearoa and Museums Australia and explored themes such as: Hāngaitanga – Relevance; Kaitiakitanga Custodianship; Tūranga Place; Mātauranga Knowledge; Tikanga Practice.
MA16 conference website - Museums Australasia
View MA16 talks - Museums Aotearoa YouTube channel
MA15 - Communicating Culture
6-8 May 2015, Otago Museum, Dunedin
"In an age when new communication technologies and methods appear almost daily, there are ever more ways to reach out to and engage the communities we serve with the stories hidden in our collections. At the 2015 Museums Aotearoa Conference in Dunedin we aim to showcase the many innovative approaches museums and galleries in Aotearoa and beyond are using to share their collections onsite, offsite and online."
MA15 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
View MA15 talks - Museums Aotearoa YouTube channel
MA14 - The Business of Culture
2-4 April 2014, Napier, New Zealand
"We say we are in the ‘culture business’, but in truth the seemingly contradictory objectives of these two words, and worlds, cohabit uneasily at the heart of every debate.
As museums and galleries seek to build sustainable business models, our activities and cultural assets often still reside resolutely in the domain of the intangible. Maintaining both cultural and economic vitality takes creativity. As we grow our organisations for the twenty first century:
- how do we harness the best of both the business and cultural worlds to ensure our place in New Zealand’s creative economy?
- in understanding our past we find our future. Museums have a history of success, so what do our survival instincts tell us?
- if boom-times breed complacency, then today, in leaner economic times, how might we find common ground as we develop both our entrepreneurial orientation, and inventive expressions of our cultural value?"
MA15 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
View MA14 talks - Museums Aotearoa YouTube channel
MA13 - Leading Museums
10-12 April 2013, Hamilton, New Zealand
MA13 explored aspects of leadership within and outside the museum: museums as leaders in the community; leading and navigating through change; leading within the institution; developing new leaders; museums leading economic recovery; and museums engaging with social change.
MA13 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
View MA13 talks - Museums Aotearoa YouTube channel
MA12 - Collaboration in Practice
18-20 April 2012, Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand
MA12 was a wonderful opportunity to engage with New Zealand's museum community, to learn, and to share the fun with colleagues from all kinds of museums, galleries and related organisations.
MA12 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
MA11 - Collecting Culture
13-15 April 2011, Nelson, New Zealand
MA11 brought together museum professionals, specialists and private collectors to explore how we look after our collections. Be they art, heritage, natural history, geology, technology, architecture, archives or intangible culture, we all handle, exhibit, interpret and manage collections.
MA11 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
MA10 - Museums, Who Needs Them?
14-16 April 2010, New Plymouth, New Zealand
The conference theme was Museums – who needs them? Articulating our relevance and value in changing and challenging times. This theme was explored across four broad strands: social impact and creative capital; community engagement; economic impact and cultural tourism; and current climate.
MA10 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
MA09 - Culture: Access - Innovation
15-17 April 2009, Gisborne, New Zealand
This conference opened up discussion and offered insights into how we can use collections effectively, providing access to diverse audiences through traditional and innovative means.
MA09 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
MA08 - Museum People - the Human Collection
8-11 April 2008, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand
The theme focussed on people - the staff and volunteers who keep our museums and art galleries functioning - and the challenges, training and development needs, and opportunities that we constantly juggle.
MA08 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
MA07 - Museums - Building for the Future
14 - 17 March 2007, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland, New Zealand
This year's annual conference was an all round success, with particular focus on building, maintaining and strengthening infrastructural elements of museums, including facilities, exhibitions, education, volunteer management, conservation, and staff training and development.
MA07 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
MA06 - Museums as a Central Focus for Community
12 - 14 April 2006, Napier, New Zealand
MA06 conference website - Internet Archive Wayback Machine
Previous conference programmes
Previous MA conference programmes are available in our publications and resources library.