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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
27 August 2025
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Reports
TOITŪ OTAGO SETTLERS MUSEUM ACTIVITY REPORT
Department: Dunedin Public Art Gallery
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 This
report covers activities of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum (Toitū) from
1 April to 30 June 2025.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
a) Notes the Toitū
Otago Settlers Museum Activity Report for the period 1 April to 30 June 2025.
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 58,629 visitors this quarter, representing a 23% decrease compared
with the same period in FY 23/24. The overall visitation for the financial year
was 301,140, representing a slight 3.5% decrease on the previous financial
year. The annual visitation total exceeded the level of service target of
250,00 visitors.
collections and exhibitions
Exhibitions
New displays
4 In
the next quarter the team will be installing an extensive changeout in the
Creative Dunedin space featuring the story of Shona Dunlop MacTavish MBE
(1920-2019) dancer, teacher, choreographer and pioneer of liturgical dance,
often referred to as ‘the mother of modern dance in New Zealand’.
Maintenance of permanent exhibits
5 The
Exhibitions and collections team continuously maintain the quality of the
permanent exhibits at Toitū, this work includes the following:
6 Audio
Visual (AV) touchscreens: All of the digital label rail screens across
Toitū have now been replaced.
7 Lighting
renewals: This reporting period we took delivery of a range of new light
fittings as part of a project to renew the exhibition lighting. The technical
team have begun a gradual roll out of new light fittings in the permanent
displays.
Permanent exhibition updates
8 Portraits:
A project is underway to create a single, authoritative catalogue for the
entire portrait collection at Toitū. The outcome will be a new, searchable
online database, along with updated content in the Smith Gallery, including
full biographies for all portraits on display.
9 First
Great City and Gold: The team is undertaking a refresh of the object displays
in these galleries. This includes the installation of a revolver that was
acquired several years ago, now able to be displayed following compliance with
updated firearms licensing regulations.
10 1925 New
Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition: Planning is underway for a
change-over of objects in this small exhibition area. A replica of the original
exhibition’s entry arch will be installed as part of the refresh. The
team has partnered with the Audience Engagement Team to develop a programme of
public talks, aligned with this year’s Heritage Week theme.
11 Foyer
Immersive Project: In July we held a very successful two-day wanaka with the
content producers and mana whenua. The concept draft has been established and
production is now underway. We anticipate opening the new ticketed attraction
in the summer.
Short temporary displays
12 “The
Craft”: an exhibition about Freemasonry in Dunedin, is currently under
development, and will be installed in the temporary display in the Transport
and Technology from September 2025.
Audience feedback
13 Some sample
feedback we have received over the reporting period includes:
· “Thank you
for making this museum accessible and attractive to everyone. It makes you
understand and love Dunedin and NZ even more.” Romane, France 3 July 2025
· “It is sooo
(sic) impressive. It is definitely the best museum in NZ. We would love to
(come) back and visit again.” Chuxia, China 18/6/25
· “Love the
accessibility and the display order. I feel more in tune with Dunedin and NZs
history. Plus love that it is free.” Cebu, PH (Philippines?) 28/6/25
· “I loved the
diversity and the amount of items, catalogued with explanations etc. super
interesting. The photo room is impressive.” Australia. 25/6/25
Digital outputs and public talks
14 Peter Read
has put together another Talking Pictures continuing the series about
Dunedin’s Great Exhibitions in the lead up to the centenary of the 1925
Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition with a focus on artworks from the Toitū
pictorial collection. This latest episode (69) is available on the Toitū
YouTube channel.
15 One ODT Cool
and Collected article was published between April and end of June 2025:
· Ingredients for a
cooking classic, by Pete Read, Ingredients
for a cooking classic | Otago Daily Times Online News
16 Seventeen
talks were delivered:
Seán Brosnahan, Curator:
· Wild Dunedin
– on the history of Gold
· ANZAC
commemoration ceremony and dinner, Selwyn College
· CTANZ conference
presentation about The Big Day, 150 Years of Otago Weddings
· St Kilda Mens Club
– History of Toitū and streets of St Kilda
· GI Probus –
about Journey to New Edinburgh
· Mosgiel U3A
immigration series talks – x 4
· Otago Art Society
– about Journey to New Edinburgh
· Dominican Sisters
gathering – about the Dominican history in Otago
Beth Rees, Assistant Registrar:
· Talk to Bayfield
High School students about the Eden Hore exhibition
· Talk to the
Victoria League club about the preparation of costume for the Eden Hore
exhibition
· Talk to the
Archaeology students club and viewing of collections at Toitū
Will McKee, Exhibition
Developer:
· Toitū ANZAC
day talk on research to prepare short films for the Roll of Honour
Jane Macknight, Exhibitions and
Collections Manager:
· Talk to Level 3
Tourism students at Otago Polytechnic about museums and tourism
· Talk and tour with
Dr Jane Malthus to Dunedin Rotary Club about the Eden Hore exhibition
Collections
Acquisitions
17 This
reporting period 10 donations were accessioned into the collection. Highlights
include Cadbury Cookie Bear ephemera transferred from the Hocken library as a
complement to our existing Cadbury collection; and the wedding outfit of
Deidrichs-Fox from The Big Day exhibition of wedding outfits on display
2022-2025.
Collections support of exhibitions
18 The Collections
team continue to support exhibitions: arranging loans, organising quarantine
processes and condition reporting and carrying out conservation preservation
processes on objects for display.
Collections projects
19 Asbestos
Remediation: The team continues to test and remediate objects when they are
required for retrieval for access or display. We continue to work with the DCC
Property team on the offsite store at Parry Street, as time and current
resource levels allow, to remediate the building itself which is asbestos
contaminated and then move into object testing.
20 Collection
Development: A specific focus recently has been on the costume holding, with
the rehousing of the shoe collection following the completion of a significance
report by Dr Jane Malthus. The team has created special card containers for our
shoes and are currently working through rehousing these into the new drawers
recently purchased with a grant from Environment Lotteries and Heritage. A preliminary
assessment of the significance of the dress collection has also been completed.
Conservations projects
21 The
Conservator condition reported three loan renewals. 32 objects selected by the
curatorial team for “The Craft” have now been conserved and prepared
for display.
22 Microdot
fading research project: We are currently waiting for a report from colleagues
at University of Otago for the microdot fading test carried out on the Thomas
Burns book. This will enable us to better understand how display lighting may
affect the ink pigment, and therefor make accurate assessments about caring for
this object whilst on display.
Archives
23 Collections
and Exhibitions staff processed 50 public enquiries, 49 by email/correspondence
and one through physical visiting. The majority of these were collection based,
followed by photograph orders through the research centre. This demonstrates
that genealogy enquiries are being well-handled through the Research Centre and
the OASES database.
audience development
Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) – Education
24 Education
themes explored through the Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) programme across
this reporting period for early childhood, primary and secondary ākonga
included immigration, colonisation, general museum exploration, the growth of
Dunedin, communication, kai tahu and early Dunedin life, Anzac Day, navigation,
Otago gold mining, school life and games during the 1950’s and
60’s, food production, the Toitū Stream trail, and Te Tiriti o
Waitangi.
Visitor Programmes
25 During this
reporting period, our program of public talks featured a variety of speakers.
These included Toitū Registrar Beth Rees on her work with textiles in the
Toitū Collections, a presentation on the kaitiaki of the Eden Hore fashion
collection in support of the Costumes and Textiles Association NZ annual
symposium, Anna Campbell, the newly appointed general manager of the Yellow
Eyed Penguin Trust, and Malcolm Deverson, speaking about his recently published
book on the life of Les Lockerbie.
26 The April
School holiday offerings had a gold, rocks and minerals theme and included gold
panning workshops, an interactive theatre performance about life on the
goldfields, a gallery trail, and for the adult audience, a talk on
Otago’s Golden Heritage with Sean Brosnahan and Hamish Blakemore, Manager
- Geology and Exploration at OceanaGold.
27 Toitū
hosted just under 500 people for tea, coffee, and Anzac biscuits on Anzac Day,
followed by a well-attended performance by the Red Cross Choir at 10am. Alongside
that, close to 200 remembrance crosses were completed by visitors in the lead
up to Anzac Day, who also engaged with the recently upgraded Roll of Honour
interactive display.
28 In
celebration of International Dance Day, Toitū hosted a full day of community
dance sessions with Dance Ōtepoti, and in support of NZ Music Month,
developed a programme of popular music sessions each Sunday. Offerings featured
weekly ‘open piano’ opportunities, led by pianist Jeff Cheshire,
and performances by local musicians and choirs.
29 In
recognition of International Museum Day, the team hosted a variety of
activities throughout the building targeted at the family audience, including a
photo booth, workshops, trails, and music.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
Retail
30 The retail
shop at Toitū had buoyant sales over the reporting period.
· April
2025 $38,900 (inc. GST) increase of $21,076 on April 2024
· May
2025 $22,000 (inc. GST) increase of $9,131 on May 2024
· June
2025 $15,859 (inc. GST) increase of $4,363 on June 2024
31 A
particular highlight of the quarter is sales of the Eden Hore publication Central
Otago Couture which supports the Eden in Dunedin Exhibition. 85
copies were sold at the opening of Eden Hore/ID opening/Book Launch event on 1
April. Over the three month reporting period 232 copies have moved. This is one
of the shops best-selling books since reopening in 2012.
32 Additional
lines were also purchased from Central Otago District Council that relate to
the Eden Hore exhibition – notebooks, postcards and small books featuring
different areas of Central Otago.
33 June 30
marked the end of the financial year and the team are very pleased with revenue
through the shop for 2024/2025 year. Total sales have been $330,300 (inc. GST)
or $287,479 (exc. GST) against a target of $200,000 (exc. GST). Revenue has
also increased by $15k on last year. Total item quantity sold: 24,700. Spend on
stock has increased to match the increased sell through.
34 End of
financial year processes have been completed smoothly which involves three shop
stocktakes and other financial administration tasks.
35 The focus
for the months ahead will be product development, restocking and purchasing for
the next six months. The commercial manager will attend the gift fair in
Auckland in late August to ensure we stock the best products and keep abreast
of current trends.
Functions and Commercial Events
36 15 private
venue bookings were held at Toitū 1 April – 30 June 2025.
37 Toitū
hosted the opening of Eden in Dunedin exhibition/ID opening/Book Launch
event on 1 April which was a major highlight. It was terrific to bring the
three events together to celebrate all things ‘fashion’ in Dunedin.
38 Toitū
hosted the CTANZ (Costume and Textile association of New Zealand ) symposium
1-3 May – a large multiple day/space event. The team trialled using the
temporary gallery as a venue space (aptly named the T&T Annex) for the
secondary stream of talks which worked well and the research centre was used
for food and beverage. In addition, the attendees had group entry rates to Lan
Yuan and a separate talk at DPAG featuring the NOM*d exhibition.
39 The
commercial manager and manager at Olveston attended MEETINGS 2025 the industry
Business Events trade fair in Auckland in mid-June. Four properties were
promoted – Toitū, Lan Yuan, DPAG and Olveston to prospective
functions and events clients across Australasia, meeting with 25 buyers over
two days. There was good interest in bringing conferences and events South to
Dunedin and we hope to benefit from this over the next few years.
OPTIONS
40 There are
no options as this report is for information only.
NEXT STEPS
41 There are
no next steps as this report is for information only.
Signatories
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Author:
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Glen Pleasants - Operations Manager
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Authoriser:
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Cam McCracken - General Manager Arts, Culture and
Recreation (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 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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Future Development Strategy
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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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