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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
22 November 2023
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Reports
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Activity Report
Department: Arts and Culture
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
1 This
report covers activities of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum (Toitū) from
1 July to 30 September
2023.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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That the Board:
a) Notes the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Activity Report
for the period 1 July to 30 September 2023.
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BACKGROUND
2 This
report is prepared for the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board meeting and
details the latest activities and KPI performance at Toitū.
DISCUSSION
Visitation
3 Toitū
recorded just over 47,000 visitors in this reporting period, representing a 19%
increase compared with the same period in FY 22/23.
COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
Exhibitions
4 Toitū
has been part of a city-wide project to celebrate the cultural philanthropy of
the Hallenstein family. The Hallenstein Legacy 1863-2023 is a
collaborative project inviting visitors to take a walking tour around seven
cultural institutions of Dunedin – Tuhura Otago Museum, the Hocken
Library, University of Otago Library Special Collections, Olveston Historic
Home, Dunedin Central Library, the Art Gallery and Toitū. The self-guided
tour also includes several buildings related to the Hallenstein story.
5 As
part of the Hallenstein Legacy, the team have refreshed the First Great City
display to include materials from the Hallenstein Brothers and D.I.C. stories.
6 Work
has continued on the new NZR Transport and Technology Display in the
southern ‘garage’ end of the Museum. The refreshed displays will
open to the public on 30th November 2023.
7 The
team are also preparing for the annual Pixie Town display, which forms a
big part of the Toitū Christmas visitor experience each December.
8 A
new community case will be installed in the Research Centre this October and
November, featuring the history of the Otago Rowing Club which is celebrating
its 150th anniversary.
Journey to New
Edinburgh
9 A
full-length version of Journey to New Edinburgh, with captions, will
continue to screen in the Research Centre until early December. We also
continue to release our short films which focus on the stories of specific
settler families. These are currently available on the Toitū YouTube
channel and will eventually be incorporated in the permanent displays across
the New Edinburgh and First Great City stories.
Digital Outputs and
Public Talks
10 As
part of Josephine’s birthday this year, the Museum has launched a
selection of railway themed images drawn from the Emerson and Rockliff
collections. Initially these will be available only at the Toitū Research
Centre but will eventually become part of our online offering.
11 Curator,
Pete Read has compiled an additional two episodes of Talking Pictures
which have been released on the Toitū YouTube channel.
12 Toitū
contributed an article for the Cool and Collected series in the Otago
Daily Times in this quarter.
13 Team
members delivered six public talks.
Collections
Support of
Exhibitions Projects
14 The
Collections team have provided a significant amount of support in preparing
objects for the Transport and Technology refresh and the update to First Great
City displays.
Collections
Projects
Vernon Content
Management System
15 The
system has undergone upgrades and some changes and staff have received updated
training on administration of the system.
Asbestos
16 As
previously reported, and as part of our continuous work programme to identify
hazards in collections, the team has tested items known to contain asbestos.
Historically, asbestos was utilised in the production of various items, such as
Bakelite, flooring materials, and products requiring heat resistance. Through
this investigation we have discovered certain collections have also been
contaminated with asbestos-containing dust.
17 To
ensure compliance with safety protocols and requirements, access to storage
facilities with contaminated collections has been restricted, limiting our
ability to make progress on collection-related work. Currently, we are in the
process of developing a methodology to identify and address these storage areas
to allow us to continue our work on various collection projects.
Firearms
18 New
compliant storage has been installed in the collections storage area to
accommodate the Museums small holding of firearms.
Conservation
19 The
Conservator has treated 120 objects for the upcoming Transport and Technology
display refresh. Other conservation work includes updating the use of wireless
climate monitoring systems and ongoing pest management, including cleaning
displays and back of house areas.
Donations
20 Work
is ongoing to review the Collections policy and Collecting plan to ensure our
collecting is sustainable and fit for purpose.
Archive
Statistics
21 Staff
processed 74 written public enquiries and 14 telephone enquiries during the
reporting period.
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Enriching
Local Curriculum (ELC) – Education
22 The
Toitū education programme continues to be popular with local schools, kura
and early childhood providers.
23 Education
programme themes covered during this reporting period include; changing modes
of transport through time, investigating migration to New Zealand before 1900
with specific assignments to research, a question-and-answer session with
curator Séan Brosnahan and a session on Primary Sources with Jenny Chen
in the Archives, the ANZACs, goldrush and Chinese experiences of migration, transport
and local migration stories, early Māori migration, Sealers and Whalers
and mass British Immigration, the effects of British colonisation on Māori
and the Treaty of Waitangi were a focus for secondary school visits. While at
Lan Yuan ākonga focused on investigating the significance of dragons in
Chinese culture.
Visitor
Programmes
24 Toitū
has offered a variety of self-guided gallery trails, public talks, workshops,
demonstrations and performances during this reporting period including:
25 Regular
fortnightly or monthly community demonstrations by the Dunedin Spinners and
Weavers Guild. These include opportunities to observe (and try) knitting and
crocheting. The Tapestry Project also holds regular demonstrations in the
Josephine Foyer.
26 Toddler
Time incorporating a short museum engagement session for our youngest visitors
with stories, exploration, songs and activities linking to a monthly theme, the
monthly Josephine Mini-Bal dance sessions and weekly Sunday afternoon Dancing
with Josephine which sees a new dance style being taught each week.
27 The
regular public talks and Tuesday Talks have welcomed Honorary Associate
Professor Daphne Lee, of the University of Otago speaking on Foulden Maar,
Otago Access Radio’s Jeff Harford spoke to the history of the
community-based radio station as it enters a new chapter and major upgrade in
their new Princes Street premises, and Catherine Hammond from The Hocken
Library shared stories of her time in the arts and cultural sector and some of
her favourite items in the collection.
28 The
new Migration to Otago series featured talks by several senior academics
from the University of Otago. Professor Angela McCarthy and Professor Angela
Wanhalla, (Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, Ngāi Tahu) spoke about Otago’s
connections to Transatlantic Slavery. Dr Ashraful Alam, spoke about migration
to small towns in Otago, and Professor Hallie Buckley spoke about Otago
goldminer migration.
29 Toitū
Sounds is an ongoing programme of live music at the Museum and this
reporting period included local performers Leigham Fitzpatrick, Emma Wells,
Jared Smith and Jo Little. The Dunedin Rock Choir performed as part of their 7th
birthday celebrations, and the Museum also hosted Titiksha – a dance and
textile art performance celebrating the Indian community and their journey in
migration to New Zealand.
30 As
part of Ōtepoti Dunedin’s Puaka Matariki festival, Toitū
visitors were invited to use a Maramataka or Star Trail to navigate through the
Museum to discover of information about the Māori lunar calendar and the
stars in the Matariki star cluster. In the July school holiday period we
offered hands-on workshops for children to decorate their own constellation
themed cake popsicle, and there was an evening viewing of the film Whina.
Commercial Activity
31 During
the reporting period, Toitū retailing achieved an increase of 33% compared
with the same period last year. This is a continuation of the positive trend
from the previous quarter.
32 The
Commercial Manager attended the New Zealand Gift Fair in late August purchasing
many New Zealand designed and made brands for the Toitū shop. Local
merchandise continues to sell well in the current difficult market, and our
improved selection is proving popular with both the local and tourist market.
33 The
Commercial team is developing new ranges for the Toitū shop, including
apparel and homeware. Delivery of the new range is timed to coincide with the
reopening of the Technology and Transport gallery.
34 The
first quarter is traditionally a slow time for functions. There have been many
repeat clients which suggests they are happy with Toitū as a preferred
venue for their functions. The Burnside boardroom has been an excellent
addition to our venue hire spaces – it is well used by both internal and external
groups.
35 As
well as being a welcome new visitor attraction, the new Technology and
Transport Gallery will also be offered as a new commercial venue hire space
from 2024.
OPTIONS
36 There
are no options as this report is for information only.
NEXT STEPS
37 There
are no next steps as this report is for information only.
Signatories
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Author:
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Cam McCracken - Director DPAG, Toitū, Lan Yuan and
Olveston
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Authoriser:
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Jeanette Wikaira - General Manager Community Services
(Acting)
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Attachments
There are no attachments
for this report.
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SUMMARY OF CONSIDERATIONS
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Fit with purpose
of Local Government
This decision promotes the cultural
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
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Fit with strategic
framework
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Contributes
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Detracts
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Not applicable
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Social Wellbeing Strategy
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☒
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☐
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☐
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Economic Development Strategy
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☒
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☐
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☐
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Environment Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Arts and Culture Strategy
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☒
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☐
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☐
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3 Waters Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Spatial Plan
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Integrated Transport Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Parks and Recreation Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Other strategic projects/policies/plans
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☒
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☐
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☐
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The activities in this report support the Arts and
Culture, Economic Development and Social Wellbeing Strategies.
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Māori Impact
Statement
The Museum consults with and works with
the Ngāi Tahu Advisory Group as well as Rūnaka on a regular basis.
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Sustainability
The principles of sustainability underpin
all the activity of Toitū and Lan Yuan.
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LTP/Annual Plan /
Financial Strategy / Infrastructure Strategy
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Financial
considerations
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Significance
This decision is considered low in terms
of the Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy.
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Engagement –
external
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Engagement -
internal
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Risks: Legal /
Health and Safety etc.
There are no legal or health and safety
risks related to matters in this report.
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Conflict of
Interest
There are no known conflicts of interest.
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Community Boards
There are no known implications for
Community Boards.
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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
22 November 2023
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Deaccession Report
Department: Ara Toi
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 The
purpose of this report is to seek endorsement from the Museum Board for the
decision by the Museum Director to deaccession two items from the Toitū
Otago Museum collection.
2 The
Toitū Collections Policy provides a framework for acquiring, caring for
and, when required, disposing of collection items.
3 In
accordance with the Policy, assessments have been made of the Takapuna DCT No
66 and Sydney Bogie tram vehicles based on their significance, condition,
ongoing storage needs and overall status within the context of the wider
Toitū transport collection holding. Following this assessment, the
following items have been selected for deaccession, with ownership transferring
to the Tramways Historical Society Inc. in Christchurch:
a) Takapuna DCT No. 66 tram, CS/3655
b) Sydney Bogie tram, 1995/92/1
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Board:
a) Endorse
the Director’s decision to deaccession the following items from the
Toitū collection and dispose of the items to the Tramways Historical
Society Inc., in accordance with the Toitū Collections Policy:
I. Takapuna DCT No. 66 tram, CS/3655
II. Sydney Bogie tram, 1995/92/1
BACKGROUND
4 The
Toitū Collection Management Policy (the Policy) was adopted in 2006 and
most recently revised in 2020. This revision was adopted by the Board in
February 2021. The Policy provides a framework for the professional management
and care of the Toitū collection.
5 Section
11 of the Policy provides updated guidance on deaccession and disposal of
collection items. It makes it clear that deaccession and disposal is good
museum practice and an established collection management tool for ensuring the
continuing quality and relevance of a collection. It also requires the
establishment of legal title, the support of an expert report where appropriate
and sets out the issues relevant to questions and process of disposal which
include: conservation needs, storage space, resource to maintain the object,
similar works in the collection. It also provides guidance which favours
disposal options which allow items to stay in public ownership.
6 The
Toitū collection includes a holding of transport artifacts related to
Dunedin, encompassing various vehicles including restored cars, buses, horse
drawn vehicles, motorbikes, a cable car and the Roslyn tram.
7 The
transport collection also includes the Sydney Bogie tram and Takapuna DCT No.
66 tram, both integral parts of the Dunedin tramway network from the early
1920s and 1930s, respectively, until the network's decommissioning in the
mid-1950s. These trams were donated to the Otago Settlers Museum in the
mid-1990s in weathered, pre-restoration condition. Since then, they have been
stored in the Museum's facilities, preventing further deterioration.
DISCUSSION
8 Following
the approval of the updated Policy, the Museum Director requested assessments
to determine the significance and condition of the Sydney Bogie and Takapuna
DCT No. 66 trams. These assessments aimed to evaluate the potential and
likelihood of future restoration, and therefore ongoing viability of ownership.
9 To
this end, reports have been prepared by Toitū staff setting out the legal
ownership, history in the collection and an assessment of significance of both
the Takapuna DCT No. 66 tram and the Sydney Bogie tram. These are appended to
this report as Attachments A and B.
10 An
assessment report from the Tramway Historical Society Inc. commissioned by
Toitū in 2000 is also included as Attachment C. This assessment
includes expert opinion regarding the limited viability of restoring the Sydney
Bogie, and some practical difficulties associated with the Takapuna
restoration.
11 The
reports confirm, as stipulated in sections 11.1 – 11.5 of the Policy,
that the Museum is the legal owner of both trams, providing details about the
history of acquisition for each. Additionally, the information highlights an
initial plan for collaboration between the Museum and the Tramways Historical
Society Inc regarding the restoration or other potential future use of the
trams.
12 At
present Toitū does not have the funding required to restore the Takapuna
DCT No 66 tram, and the Museum also lacks the in-house specialist skills or
time required for the restoration task. Even if restoration was viable,
Toitū does not have the space to include the Takapuna DCT No. 66 tram into
its existing museum displays. It is worth noting, the Museum already has two
other smaller restored Dunedin trams in its collection, both of which are on
display.
13 The
Tramways Historical Society Inc. have indicated recently that in accordance
with their report in 2000 they are now able to take both trams into their
collection. They propose to fully restore the Takapuna DCT No 66. In the case
of the Sydney Bogie, the proposal is to carry out a survey of the tram to
facilitate and support pattern making and to salvage parts from the tram for
future restorations.
14 This
proposal ensures the Takapuna DCT NO 66 remains in the public domain for the
ultimate benefit and enjoyment of the community. The Sydney Bogie will
contribute to the future restoration of other trams. There are no other
conditions on disposal attached to the Trams and the proposed approach is in
accordance with the Policy and Museum best practice standards for deaccession
and disposal.
OPTIONS
15 Not
applicable.
NEXT STEPS
16 The
Museum Board endorses the Director’s decision to deaccession the Takapuna
DCT No. 66 tram, CS/3655 and dispose / transfer ownership to the Tramways
Historical Society Inc.
17 The
Museum Board endorses the Director’s decision to deaccession the Sydney
Bogie tram, 1995/92/1 and dispose / transfer ownership to the Tramways
Historical Society Inc.
Signatories
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Author:
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Jane Macknight - Exhibitions and Collections Manager -
Toitu/Lan Yuan
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Authoriser:
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Cam McCracken - Director DPAG, Toitū, Lan Yuan and
Olveston
Jeanette Wikaira - General Manager Community Services
(Acting)
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Attachments
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Title
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Page
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⇩a
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Report on Takapuna DCT
No 66 tram
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24
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⇩b
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Report on Sydney Bogie
Tram
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27
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⇩c
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Tramways Historical
Society Report on Trams 2000
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33
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SUMMARY OF CONSIDERATIONS
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Fit with purpose
of Local Government
This decision promotes the cultural
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
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Fit with strategic
framework
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Contributes
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Detracts
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Not applicable
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|
Social Wellbeing Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
|
|
Economic Development Strategy
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☐
|
☐
|
☒
|
|
Environment Strategy
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☐
|
☐
|
☒
|
|
Arts and Culture Strategy
|
☒
|
☐
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☐
|
|
3 Waters Strategy
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☐
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☐
|
☒
|
|
Spatial Plan
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☐
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☐
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☒
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|
Integrated Transport Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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|
Parks and Recreation Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
|
|
Other strategic projects/policies/plans
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☐
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☐
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☒
|
|
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Māori Impact Statement
There are no known impacts for Māori.
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Sustainability
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LTP/Annual Plan /
Financial Strategy /Infrastructure Strategy
There are no implications.
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Financial
considerations
There are no financial implications.
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Significance
This decision is not considered significant in terms of
the Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy. The ultimate aim of
the process will result in an overall beneficial effect through reducing the
stress on storage and conservation resources at Toitū. The public will
ultimately have access to the Takapuna DCT No. 66 tram at the Ferrymead
Heritage park in Christchurch, following its preservation by the Tramway
Historic Society.
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Engagement –
external
There has been engagement with the external parties
referred to in the report.
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Engagement -
internal
There has been engagement within the Culture, Arts and
Recreation Services Group.
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Risks: Legal /
Health and Safety etc.
There are no identified risks.
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Conflict of
Interest
There is no known conflict of interest.
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Community Boards
There are no known implications for Community Boards.
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