A group of former National Library and public library managers, who were concerned about the merging of the National Library and Archives NZ into the Department of Internal affairs in 2011 have prepared a report addressing the merge. Please read it and give them your thoughts.

Their report says:

"Many in the library and information sector were concerned about the loss of identity and independence of the National Library and National Archives with their merger into the Department of Internal Affairs in 2011. As a group of former public and national library managers concerned about the preservation of the status and statutory responsibilities of the National Library, in 2018 we approached the then Finance Minister, and had ongoing correspondence and meetings with him and the then Minister for the National Library."

A wider ministerial consultation led to a series of commitments included in the 2020 budget, in which the (then Labour led) Government announced significant investment in documentary heritage.

NALI were greatly encouraged by these commitments, and by the subsequent actions announced to give effect to them and by the subsequent actions announced to give effect to them:

• A new National Library and Archives appropriation will be implemented from 1 July 2020, providing greater external transparency of the funding available to the institutions.
• The Chief Archivist and National Librarian having direct access to the Minister and Chief Executive of the Department as required.
• The Chief Archivist and National Librarian receiving tier 2 financial, HR and contract delegations meaning they can assume greater authority, consistent with their existing accountability.
• Delegated governance of routine capital spending.
• To explore opportunities to enhance external reporting for National Library and Archives while remaining a core part of the department’s Annual Reporting process.
• Aligning the current strategic directions with the Preserving the Nation’s Memory Programme to maximise the benefits from this investment.
• Developing a sector focussed digital futures approach to align important digital content and access.

Since then, NALI have been delighted to see provision for the new Archives building, and the further development of collaboration between Archives NZ and the National Library.

"However, we sought clarification from the CEO of DIA on how the budgetary and action commitments set out above, had been implemented.  Specifically:

• The extent of the further investment in the digitisation, and how that is being managed in partnership with Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.
• Progress on the Regional Shared Repository for which funding for land purchase and design was committed. 
• Detail of the new form of National Library and Archives appropriation, providing greater external transparency of the funding available to the institutions.
• What access the Chief Archivist and National have to the Minister and Chief Executive of the Department.  
• Whether Archives NZ and the National Library are once again publishing stand-alone annual reports
• What has been done at sector level to align important digital content and access

We were greatly heartened by a full and speedy response from the CEO, and an invitation to meet with him for further discussion. Our November meeting with Paul James was equally positive, given the general constraints on the public sector at this stage. Updates covered during our meeting included the following:

Digitisation and digitisation funding

There is now ongoing sustainable funding for shared digitisation with Archives NZ, Nga Taonga sound and Vision and National Library.  Significant efforts have ensured that depreciation on the capital asset created is now earmarked to be reinvested in ongoing digitisation – an important achievement by the department. Digitisation for access restarted in Wellington early December 2025.

Regional repository

A Property Strategy for the department, focusing on the medium term (5-8 years) is being developed. The place of the shared repository will be considered in this mix.   We continue to support the need for a ‘dark’ store and look forward to the outcome of the Property Strategy when completed.

Ministerial engagement and annual reporting

DIA leadership provides opportunities to engage and encourages the National Librarian and Chief Archivist to be proactive in bringing matters of interest to the attention of the Minister through the regular DIA briefings.   Neither National Library or Archives NZ publish separate reports but there is reporting through the report of the Department.  There is a Report of the Guardians Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library tabled in Parliament each year, and there is opportunity for LIAC and the other bodies to use the legislative mandate for annual reporting to highlight issues affecting the sector.

Ongoing collaboration of Archives NZ, National Library and Nga Taonga

There has been very positive collaboration with Nga Taonga Sound and Vision at a practical level, and we see that Nga Taonga being located within the Te Rua building and continuing to be part of the Heritage Campus will bring opportunities for greater collaboration between the institutions in the future. At an international level it was pleasing to hear of the boosting of NZ participation in the “quad” of National Library collaboration with Canada, Australia and the UK

NALI's conclusions

While we are very pleased to note that there have been major achievements made with the support and leadership within DIA, in the long term we believe that Archives New Zealand, the National Library of New Zealand and Nga Taonga Sound and Vision would be better placed at arms-length from being part of a core government department, as befitting our cultural and heritage institutions. We believe that this is worthy of wider debate and, if this is seen as a long-term goal of the sector, work needs to begin now to promote the debate and explore suitable models of independent operation.

Several different models could be considered, including a bold concept, proposed in earlier discussions, of establishing a “Smithsonian” style group of cultural and heritage institutions, which would include Te Papa, working independently, but collaboratively, with government support.  Debate should focus on ensuring that the heritage institutions work together for the benefit of New Zealanders, with the status and statutory independence appropriate to their functions and purpose.

• The report can be found here.
• Nali sent the following letter to LIANZA which will be tabled with the LIANZA advocacy group when it is formed in the coming months.

NALI includes: Penny Carnaby FLIANZA, Jane Hill FLIANZA, Sue Sutherland ONZM, FLIANZA, and Helen Tait FLIANZA

NALI are seeking feedback on their report. Please provide your feedback by April 21 on the link below.