Governance and leadershipTe whakahaere me te ārahi

Governing a heritage institution

This guide, from National Services Te Paerangi, explores the challenges faced by governing parties and outlines how to provide effective, strategic leadership.

More governance resources:

Creative NZ publishes a useful guide for arts institutions:

Getting on Board: a governance resource guide for arts organisations

The NZ Navigator is a free self-assessment tool to help boards and leadership teams reflect on governance, management, operations, and financial sustainability.

NZ Navigator

Community Governance Aotearoa provides support to people and groups involved in governance of Not-for-Profits, Non-Governmental Organisations, and other Community Groups.  Resources include a principles-based guide, the Good Governance Code

Explore resources from Community Governance Aotearoa

Download the Good Governance Code

The New Zealand Institute of Directors provides guidance on board roles, accountability, legal duties, and governance best practice for charities and incorporated societies. The Four-Pillars Governance framework is widely used in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Explore New Zealand Institute of Directors Not for Profit Governance resources

Bicultural governance

Museums, galleries, other heritage organisations, and iwi have various options available for governance. This guide, from National Services Te Paerangi, takes you through a process of decision-making on governance, with a focus on New Zealand’s bicultural context.

Collaborative Leadership in Museums explores co-leadership models, including the bicultural dual leadership model at Te Papa.

Code of ethics and professional practice

Museums Aotearoa has published a code of ethics describing the responsibilities of museums, governing bodies, and staff to each other, the collections, and the public.

Code of ethics and professional practice

The Museums Aotearoa National Repatriation Policy provides guidance to museums on the ethical care and treatment of kōiwi tangata (Human remains) in their care, with a focus on repatriation and source community involvement.

National Repatriation Policy for Kōiwi Tangata and Associated Burial Taonga within Aotearoa

 Exploring the codes of ethics and standards of other museum organizations can guide you in developing your own code of ethics and professional practice by providing common ethical concerns and methods in the sector.

International Council of Museums | Code of Ethics

American Alliance of Museums | Core Standards for Museums

Make a strategic plan

What are the goals for your museum? How are you going to reach them? These are questions you address in a strategic plan. This guide offers you a process to follow in developing a plan.

Develop your business case

If you are planning a new museum, developing a business case will help you decide whether that is feasible. This guide explains how and when to develop a business case, and includes a template you can use for the process.

Museum standards

Reach new levels of professionalism with the New Zealand Museums Standards Scheme. See where your museum, gallery, or iwi organisation is doing well, and where it may need improvement.

Module One: Governance, Management and Planning of the NZMSS supports museums, galleries, and iwi whare taonga to assess current practice and identify areas for development across governance, management, and planning.

New Zealand Museums Standards Scheme

Training

See Staff and volunteer management for resources to assist you with the legal aspects of employing and managing staff.

Developing policies

Having robust policies in place can streamline decision-making and help your organisation run more effectively. Here are some good sample policy documents to guide you in developing your own.

Governance policies – Auckland Museum

Governance policies – National Museum of Australia

Other Resources

Museums & Galleries Queensland – Governance, Management, and Operations Guides

ICOM – Standards and Guidelines provides resources on governance-adjacent areas such as policy development, fundraising, and institutional management

The Institute of Directors NZ | Not-for-profit governance hub

Office of the Auditor-General – Governance in the arts, culture, and heritage sector report (2015)

CommunityNet Aotearoa from NZ Navigator Trust, provides an online repository of free resources for organisations and communities to build and strengthen their capabilities.