On this page:

Acquisition and deaccession policies
Processing objects
Collection management systems
Valuing and insuring collections
Found Māori objects (taonga tūturu)

Acquisition and deaccession policies

How do you make decisions about acquiring or no longer keeping collection items? Every museum needs a framework for such decisions. This guide, from National Services Te Paerangi, aims to help you develop suitable policies for that framework.

The Vernon User Group 2021 panel: Going going gone - deaccessioning unpacked (youtube video)

Our guide to guardians of iwiiwi tribal treasures may also be relevant:

Processing objects

Manage incoming items, from donation to cataloguing and storage, with our object entry flow chart.

Applying accession numbers

Learn how to apply accession numbers to non-porous stone, glazed ceramics, glass, and uncoated metals with this guide from National Services Te Paerangi, or watch our videos below.

How-to videos:

• Applying accession numbers to textiles
• Applying accession numbers to glazed materials
• Applying accession numbers to unglazed materials

Collection management systems

Are you planning to change how you manage information about your collection? Do you want to transfer it to a computer system? Or change your current software set-up? This guide, from National Services Te Paerangi, outlines a process to help you decide what will work best for you.

The following are examples of collection management systems:

• eHive
• PastPerfect Museum Software
• Vernon CMS
• MOSAiC
• Mukurtu (developed in partnership with indigenous communities)

Valuing and insuring collections

Have you done a valuation of your collection? Most museums and art galleries are legally required to do so. What do you value? How do you go about doing a valuation? This guide, from National Services Te Paerangi, aims to tell you how.

Found Māori objects (taonga tūturu)

Someone found a Māori object and brought it to your museum – what next?

Newly found Māori objects, or taonga tūturu, are in the first instance Crown-owned to allow for claims of ownership. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage must be notified of the object. See the ministry’s website for more information.

Taonga tūturu – Ministry for Culture and Heritage