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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
14 February 2024
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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 October to 31 December 2023.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
a) Notes the Toitū
Otago Settlers Museum Activity Report for the period 1 October to 31 December
2023.
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 81,247 visitors in this reporting period, representing a 47% increase
compared with the same period in FY 22/23.
COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
Exhibitions
4 NZR
Transport and Technology Displays: On the Move and Monster to Miniature. This
refreshed display was opened to the public in late November 2023. The show has
been popular with visitors during the summer holiday period, and we have
received consistently excellent feedback in visitor surveys.
5 As
part of our usual Christmas programme, Pixie Town was on display between
8 – 24 December. The show was covered across the Stuff media platform as
well as in the ODT.
6 The
Creative Dunedin exhibit has been updated to include a new display of
Dunedin music posters. This is a short-term exhibit as we prepare for a larger
refresh mid-year featuring dancer Shona MacTavish MBE.
7 We
have commenced a software upgrade to the digital label rails that provide
object information across all permanent Toitū exhibits.
8 During
the first quarter the exhibitions and collections team will complete the
regular programme of cleaning and maintenance to various displays.
Digital Outputs and Public Talks
9 Two
Talking Pictures episodes were released to the Toitū YouTube
channel.
10 Two Cool
and Collected articles were published in the Otago Daily Times.
11 Nine public
talks were delivered.
12 15 Journey
to New Edinburgh short stories were made available on the Toitū
YouTube channel.
Collections
Acquisitions
13 A number of
items have been acquired for the collection this reporting period. These
include several large items from the Cadbury Factory, and a Vietnam War
military kit. The team have completed hazardous substance testing and cleaned
items prior to their transport to the Museum.
Collections Projects
14 Asbestos
Testing and Collection Access: Our ongoing efforts involve testing individual
objects essential for retrieval from the collection stores, intended for display
or viewing purposes. This quarter, we are prioritizing the completion of
testing in the costume and textile store. We expect this will allow staff full
access to the store in the near future. Subsequently, we plan to complete
externally funded projects addressing pest risk, as well as undertake the
cataloguing and rehousing of costumes.
15 Firearms
Collection Audit and Relocation: Currently, we are in the process of awaiting
updates to our licensing requirements, which will precede a comprehensive audit
and relocation of the firearms collection. This transfer will involve moving
the collection from the old strong room to new storage systems in the large
object store.
16 Conservation
Planning and Reorganization: In preparation for the upcoming year's conservation
activities, we have reorganized the conservation store. The Conservator is
currently engaged in providing support to various acquisition projects, as
outlined in the previous sections of this report.
17 Staff are
actively conducting an audit of historical inward and outward loans. This
initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a thorough and accurate
record of loaned items, ensuring transparency and accountability in our
collections management.
18 Staff are
working with Tramway Historical Society Inc. on the transfer of items recently
deaccessioned from the Toitū collection.
Archives
19 Staff
processed 75 public enquiries, 72 by email/correspondence and three in person.
20 A recent
review of public enquiries has revealed most are simple genealogy requests
which can be fulfilled using online resources or at our Research Centre. As a
result we have been working with our genealogy software supplier to provide
additional training to visitor hosts at the Research Centre; updated the Toitū
website to include a downloadable research guide; and are currently in the
process of reviewing the public reference material to ensure the Research
centre meets visitor expectations.
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) – Education
21 Enriching
Local Curriculum education programmes were well-used this reporting period by
early childhood, primary and secondary ākonga. Themes covered have
included Waitati rohe, Uruao and the Araiteuru waka, migration stories and
exploring the interactive highlights of the Museum, Araiteuru Gallery in depth,
Dunedin’s heritage, the refreshed transport Gallery and dragons.
22 Trainee
teachers from Te Pūkenga visited to learn more about the Toitū
exhibits and the education programmes we offer. This is a useful opportunity
for them to learn about local pūrākau and the resources available to
them as future teachers.
23 We have
also offered a number of outreach programmes to schools and early childhood
centres, and special programmes for special needs ākonga.
Visitor Programmes
24 This has
been a busy time for the Visitor Programme A snapshot of some of the wide
variety of self-guided gallery trails, public talks, workshops, demonstrations
and performances during this reporting period are as follows:
25 Regular
fortnightly community demonstrations by the Dunedin Spinners and Weavers Guild.
These include opportunities to observe (and try) knitting and crocheting. The
Tapestry Project also holds monthly 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,
while the monthly Josephine Mini-Bal dance sessions and weekly Sunday afternoon
Dancing with Josephine which sees a new dance style being taught each week has
been popular with our adult audiences.
27 The regular
public talks and Tuesday Talks have included Daphne Henderson to speak about
Seacliff asylum, and Professor Wendy Lee demonstrating traditional Indonesian
instruments.
28 The new Migration
to Otago series featured talks by several senior academics from the
University of Otago. Graduate student Gabe Turner spoke about refugee
settlement in Dunedin, and Professor Jacqui Leckie spoke about loneliness and
melancholia in hill country migrants.
29 Toitū
Sounds is an ongoing programme of live music at the Museum and this
reporting period included local performer Linda Munro, and the University of
Otago’s Puspawarna Gamelan orchestra, a traditional Indonesian percussion
and gong orchestra. The NZ Red Cross Choir also performed their annual end of
year concert in the Josephine Foyer.
30 Re:In:Act,
a project which originated at Toitū in 2022, in collaboration with
Ōtepoti Theatre Lab, returned for a performance by Swaroopa Innu,
exploring the history of Indian migrants and goldminers in Otago.
31 In December
we offered our annual Christmas programme featuring the Pixie Town exhibit, the
associated Pixies Tinker Town craft area and the Pixie Gallery Trail. This year
our Christmas-themed workshops included cake and cupcake decorating and tote
bag decorating. The season also included Christmas music performances by the
Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra, Pho Pugs ukulele group, Linda Munro, and the
Dunedin Harmony Chorus. This year we introduced a programme of Quiet Hours in
Pixie Town, outside regular operating hours, for our neurodiverse community.
Approximately 4,600 people attended Christmas season programmes in December.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
32 The
Toitū gift shop has been busy over the summer months, recording a 40%
year-to-date increase in sales. Notably, November 2023 and December 2023 marked
the busiest months for the Toitū shop since its reopening in 2012. Local
products have been particularly popular among customers.
33 Prior to
Christmas, we commissioned a new range of Tiger Tea products. These have sold
well, especially the children’s t-shirt. There have been multiple
requests for adult’s sizes so we plan to print the tiger tea design in
larger sizing this year.
34 The annual
late-night Christmas shopping event on December 13, 2023, surpassed
expectations, emerging as the busiest in the last decade. Visitors enjoyed a
festive atmosphere with live piano music, Christmas nibbles, and late-night
access to Pixie Town, contributing to the success of the event.
35 Santa
Photography has also been busier than usual. Our commercial photography partner
printed 2,206 photos.
36 Over the
reporting period there has been a steady increase in functions and events at
both Toitū and Lan Yuan. The refreshed Technology and Transport Gallery
will be promoted as a venue space for commercial hire in 2024.
OPTIONS
37 There are
no options as this report is for information only.
NEXT STEPS
38 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 Arts, Culture and
Recreation
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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 enables democratic local
decision making and action by, and on behalf of communities.
This decision promotes the social
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
This decision promotes the economic
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
This decision promotes the environmental
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
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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Change of meeting date (June 2024)
Department: Civic
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 The
scheduled meeting of the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board for June is
Wednesday, 5 June 2024.
2 Council
will be deliberating on the draft 10 Year Plan 2024-2034 from 4-7 June, which will
impact the attendance of Council appointed Board members Cr Acklin, Cr Gilbert
and Cr Lucas for the scheduled meeting of 5 June.
3 The
Committee are requested to consider an alternate date for the June meeting of
Wednesday 12 June 2024, commencing at 9:30am.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
a) Accepts the change in
schedule meeting date from Wednesday 5 June to
Wednesday 12 June 2024.
Signatories
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Author:
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Lauren Riddle - Governance Support Officer
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Authoriser:
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Clare Sullivan - Manager Governance
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Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
