Code of ethics and professional practice
Our Code describes the responsibilities of museums, galleries, governing bodies and staff, to each other and to the collections, as well as to the public who support, fund and visit a museum or gallery.
About the Code
The Code of Ethics is for Governing Bodies, Managers and Staff of Museums and Art Galleries in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was adopted by Museums Aotearoa Te Tari o Ngā Whare Taonga o te Motu The Museums of New Zealand Inc on 20 November 2013.
Review of CoE and addition of Repatriation Addendum
In 2020 MA began a review of the Code of Ethics and the proposed addition of a guidance document for repatriation, the National Repatriation addendum for Kōiwi Tangata and Associated Burial Taonga within Aotearoa.
In 2020 we sought feedback on both documents and held several online zui to enable members to dicsuss them. Feedback has been collated into a revised document to be presented for the Annual Genral Meeting in June 2021. Inquiries can be made to ethics@museumsaotearoa.org.nz
The final draft Code of Ethics (2021) and Repatriation Policy are now available ahead of the AGM in June 2021.
Check the documents out here (members only):
Code of Ethics 2021 (final draft)
Comparison of 2013 and draft 2021 CoEs
CoE Table of Contents - online
The following links are to view the current Code of Ethics (2013) online:
Introduction
Responsibilities of governing bodies and relevant local authority managers
- To the museum
- To the staff of the museum
Responsibilities of museum and art gallery managers
- To the public
- To museum and gallery staff
- To the collections in their care
- Exhibition, research and public programmes
- Operations
Responsibilities of museum and art gallery staff
- To managers and the governing body
- To the museum
- To the public
- To the collection
- Exhibitions, research and public programmes
Appendix A
Natural history ethics for Aotearoa New Zealand
Appendix B
Human remains policy and practice
Appendix C
Museums Aotearoa Ethics Committee terms of reference
Appendix D
Other relevant codes and sources of information for New Zealand practitioners
Appendix E
The UNESCO and UNIDROIT conventions
Download a PDF copy
Find a downloadable copy of the Code of Ethics in our publications repository