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.

Arts institutions may also be interested in this useful guide from Creative NZ:

Getting on Board: a governance resource guide for arts organisations

Bicultural governance

Museums, galleries, other heritage organisations, and iwiiwi tribes 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.

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

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 iwiiwi tribal organisation is doing well, and where it may need improvement.

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