NZCCM News

Ask a conservator day

Prayash Chhetri — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:46:00 GMT

What is Ask a Conservator Day?

Ask a Conservator Day is a yearly opportunity where conservation professionals hold programs, engage on social media, and take time to share their work with the world. We hold Ask a Conservator day in November to remember the flooding of Florence on November 4th, 1966, which damaged priceless cultural heritage. However, in response to the catastrophe, incredible efforts were made—and are still being undertaken—to conserve the items impacted by the flood. The disaster sparked many conservation careers as more people became aware of the field and the many aspects of preservation.

Ask a Conservator Day follows in the spirit of that international collaboration and exchange of knowledge. We acknowledge and celebrate the growth of the field inspired by the response to the flood by creating an opportunity for people to engage with conservators.

How Can I Get My Questions Answered?

You can participate in many different ways! Ask a Conservator Day is accessible from anywhere via social media! Follow the hashtag #AskAConservator on your social media platform of choice to see a holistic view of what conservation entails—everything from individual conservators working in private practice to multiple conservation departments at large institutions. You can also find information about in-person events! See if local institutions and practices are hosting events in your area.

Ask a Conservator Day 2025

Our theme this year is "Who are the people in your neighborhood?" Conservators work with a wide variety of professionals who bring their skills to the preservation of cultural heritage. We'll be focusing on the collaborations and colleagues who help make the work of conservators possible.

For more info take a look here: Ask a Conservator Day - American Institute for Conservation

If you or your institution are planning to take part, we’d love to hear from you so we can help share your involvement and celebrate together. It’s a great opportunity to connect, learn, and showcase the amazing work happening across our community - so let’s make it something we can all enjoy!

Please contact the Social Media Officer via NZCCM Facebook or direct message us on Instagram or at social.nzccm@gmail.com

Zui: Working smarter with nature, July 31st 12-1pm

Prayash Chhetri — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 22:41:53 GMT

Zui: Working smarter with nature

July 31st 12 -1pm

Photo: Auckland City Library's green roof, photo supplied.

With electricity prices at an all-time high, heritage institutions are increasingly becoming locked into the expensive task of providing custom climates for their collections.

Many museums spend a fair proportion of their annual budget just keeping the air conditioning running to ensure the 20°C and 50% humidity standard. That's money that could be going toward new exhibitions, community programmes, or simply keeping the doors open.

But what if there's a better way? Passive design is about working with our environment instead of against it—using the thermal mass of concrete walls, the insulation qualities of green roofs, and strategic airflow to create stable conditions without the constant expense of electricity. At this zui, four speakers from across the heritage sector will talk about the passive methods and techniques they have used for creating custom climate environments.

Speakers

Auckland City Library recently installed a green roof that naturally regulates temperature and humidity while reducing energy costs. At the zui, Senior Project Manager | Mātanga Poumua mō Ngā Wai Ora, Rachel Devine will discuss the planning and creation of this living roof – which was created with support of mana whenua – and how it works with the building's systems to create stable conditions.

Craig Dalgleish and Rawiri Tinirau at Rānana Marae took a different approach—custom-building their whare taonga to achieve an optimal level of preservation. At the zui, they will talk about the decisions that were made so that climate control systems were not required.

Lastly National Library’s Senior Conservator Vesna Zivkovic will talk about how she is championing changes to traditional climate standards without compromising the preservation needs of collections.

These institutions are discovering that working with natural systems often provides better collection care in which buildings are designed that align with our values as kaitiaki. The cost of keeping collections safe is becoming unviable, so working with passive systems is making even greater sense. By reducing energy consumption without compromising collection care, they demonstrate how sustainability and preservation can go hand in hand. Join us to explore practical strategies that support a more resilient future for our collections.

Follow National Services Te Paerangi socials for more updates!

Save the date - OCM Intersectoral Conference "Collections 2030 & Beyond"

Prayash Chhetri — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 22:24:33 GMT

Announcing “Collections 2030 & Beyond” 22–26 September 2025

Collections 2030 & beyond is a global conference dedicated to exploring how heritage collections in museums, libraries, archives and beyond can actively contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through cross-sector dialogue, expert insights, and collaborative innovation, the event will mobilize collections for social, environmental, and economic impact.

Featuring keynote speeches, lightning talks, panel discussions, and breakout sessions for everyone to have their say! The event is designed to foster lasting partnerships for sustainable change—anchored in the five pillars of the SDGs: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

More info coming soon!

Organised by:

▪️ ICCROM – International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property

▪️APOYOnline – Association for Heritage Preservation of the Americas

▪️ IIC – International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works

▪️ University of Valencia – Universitat de València

In collaboration with:

▪️ IFLA – International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

▪️ SEAMEO SPAFA – Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (via SEAMEO Secretariat)

With support from:

▪️ Canadian Conservation Institute

▪️ ICOM – International Council of Museums

▪️ Museum Centre in Hordaland (MUHO) – Museumssenteret i Hordaland

▪️ National Library of New Zealand

▪️ KIK-IRPA – Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage

▪️ The National Archives (UK)

Announcements from IIC and AICCM

Prayash Chhetri — Mon, 26 May 2025 09:08:53 GMT

Announcements from IIC - Unlock Learning, Celebrate Growth!

IIC is launching an exciting offer to members of their Regional and Affiliated Groups - an exclusive access to the IIC Learning Platform for just £25 per person.

This special rate is a key benefit of being part of the IIC Regional and Affiliated groups and provides access to all our professional development programmes in one place. Whether your members are looking to build new skills, enhance your career, or stay updated with the latest conservation knowledge, the platform has something for everyone.

Do not miss out on this opportunity to invest in your growth. To sign up or learn more, please get in touch with Marina Herriges directly at marina.herriges@iiconservation.org

Announcements from AICCM

More than Materials: Collaborative Approaches in Cultural Heritage Conservation 2025 AICCM Conference

From 12 to 14 November, the 2025 AICCM National Conference will take place at Kurilpa (South Brisbane) on the unceded lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera/Jagera peoples who we acknowledge as the Original Custodians of this Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise First Nations enduring connection to lands, waters, culture, and community and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples.

Find Out More

Call for expressions of interest in a one-day seminar on environmental management of documentary heritage

Prayash Chhetri — Wed, 14 May 2025 09:12:58 GMT

Kia ora whānau, we have an exciting news for you.

Overturning a lifetime of misunderstanding – making the move towards passive climate storage of archive and library collections by Chris Woods (see bio below).

This is a call for expressions of interest in a one-day seminar on environmental management of documentary heritage to be held on Thursday 25th September 2025 in Wellington. The cost would be $150 per participant.

A major risk to archival collections is the environment in which they are stored. Understanding how archives interact with the climate inside a store, what environments are safe for archival materials (including in reading rooms and displays) and which provide a sustainable and affordable means of conserving collections, are key issues for conservators, librarians and archivists hoping to ensure the long-term conservation of collections. In recent times there has been a 'sea-change' in what we understand about the materials in archives, leading to a major shift in direction from tightly managed environments, using computer-controlled mechanical equipment, towards passive climate storage.

This in-person day course aims to help professionals understand how and why the sector has relied on engineering solutions hitherto, why these fail and do not provide what archival and library materials need and what we can do to change from wasteful, damaging and carbon-emitting methods towards sustainable and protective storage.

The course will be split into two halves - morning and afternoon session.

The morning session will examine:

 The standard guidance that developed in the 1970s and why it did not reflect the reality of archival and library materials and their needs

 how typical condensing air handling and air conditioning systems operate and why they cannot provide a safe environment for collections

 how archive and books interact with storage climates

 the significance of monitoring humidity and temperature appropriately in stores and what monitoring data can tell us.

The afternoon session will cover:

 how and why passive climate storage works and can protect collections and provide more stable and sustainable conditions than mechanically controlled environments

 the different approaches to building design and construction that are needed in contrast to previous approaches

 what forms of back-up control may be needed and why they can be used intermittently and safely

 how to test the environmental strengths and weaknesses of an existing store and whether it is suitable for passive climate storage

 what improvements may be needed to achieve a safe passive environment in existing stores

 the relationship between fire protection design and the storage environment

 how to define whether architects, engineers and builders have provided storage buildings that meet standards and the needs of collections, including handover processes and managing climate in the first years of a new store.

The session will refer to a range of conservation science research over the last 30 years and to the current standards BS 4971:2017 Conservation and care of archive and library collections, BS EN 16893:2018 Specifications for buildings intended for heritage collections and ISO 11799:2024

Document storage requirements for archive and library materials. It will use a range of positive and negative case studies of archive and library buildings in the UK in order to illustrate errors and successes.

About Chris Woods

Chris Woods is the current Director of the National Conservation Service, a UK based non-profit membership organisation for archives, libraries and museums without conservation staff, see www.ncs.org.uk. He is also chair of the British Standards Institution’s committee responsible for BS 4971, having led its review and drafting of the current, 2017 iteration, and was convenor of the working group responsible for drafting EN 16893:2018.

Please get in touch with Vesna Živković at vesna.zivkovic@dia.govt.nz or Anna Whitehead at anna.whitehead@dia.govt.nz as soon as possible, so we can gauge interest and arrange a suitably-sized venue.

Please note: This is the same seminar/workshop that Chris will be giving at Bind25 in Auckland a week earlier.

IIC Ghent Congress 2026: Call for Paper and Poster Proposals

Prayash Chhetri — Wed, 14 May 2025 06:07:53 GMT

Kia ora e te whānau, sharing this Congress on behalf of IIC.

IIC is thrilled to invite paper and poster proposals for the 31st biennial IIC Congress Ghent, 8-11 September 2026, set to take place both in-person and online.

We are looking for new, original, unpublished work, relevant to the Congress theme and the conservation profession.

About the theme:

Ensembles: Conserving Interconnected Artworks, Artefacts and Collections

A significant proportion of the world’s cultural heritage comprises interconnected works or collections that gain increased value and significance when considered as a whole. These groupings, often referred to as ensembles, can be found in fine art, ethnographic or world collections, architectural complexes, archaeological sites, and many other forms of artistic and historical expression. The conservation of cultural heritage ensembles needs to consider not only the individual needs of each component, but also the relationship between multiple pieces and their historical significance. Approaching ensembles in this holistic manner, important insights are gained on the depth of cultural narratives, the evolution of artistic traditions, and the broader historical and social connections that these works represent.

Accepted papers will be published in the Congress Proceedings as a special digital supplement of Studies in Conservation with selected presentations and posters featured in an interactive Congress platform.

Further details, including the full submission guidelines, can be found here:

https://www.iiconservation.org/announcements/iic-31st-congress-ghent-2026-call-paper-and-poster-proposals

We look forward to seeing you virtually or in person in Ghent in September 2026!

#IICCongress

X: IIC_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iiconservation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/International.Institute.for.Conservation

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iiconservation

Call out - repairing cloth bound books

Prayash Chhetri — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 19:59:03 GMT

Amazing opportunity to learn more about repairing bound books

Louise James from The Binding Studio, based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is hosting a workshop about repairing cloth bound books.

This workshop is a great starting place to learn about book conservation and repair. It’s a stepping stone to repairing at home and feeling confident with bookbinding processes.

Here is some info about the workshop, please contact Louise at thebindingstudio@gmail.com or check the link - Repairing Cloth Bound Books — The Binding Studio | Artisan Bookbinder

Tutor: David Ashman

Date / time: Two day workshop- Friday 6th & Saturday 7th December / 10am to 4pm

Skill Level: advanced

Workshop Length: 12 hours / over 2 days

Number of Participants: 6x

Join us in Tauranga Moana | Bay of Plenty - NZCCM Conference 2024

Prayash Chhetri — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 10:28:45 GMT

Nau mai, haere mai!

Come and join us 18th - 20th September at NZCCM 2024 - an excellent opportunity to connect and engage with speakers and diverse professionals across conservation sector and partners. The conference will be held this year at a vibrant community hub in Tauranga Moana, the Historic Village!

The first two days will feature keynote speakers, papers, and panels with an emphasis on the theme of “Navigating Conservation Challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand.” The theme of this year’s conference acknowledges our location and the interconnectedness of land, water, and people, emphasing the significance of both the environment and the well-being of the community.

On the third day, there will be a field trip to sites between Tauranga and Waihi Beach, focusing on coastline changes and impacts to archaeology.

Conference dinner will be held at Macau, 50 The Strand Tauranga. Please note: Conference registration does not include the dinner.

Registration for the Conference and Conference dinner is open now!

For booking and more info please visit - NZCCM Conference 2024

Hurry up and secure your spot! Ka kite koutou kei te Tauranga Moana!

Don't miss this opportunity of whakawhanaungatanga.

Training Announcement! Emergency Management for Heritage Courses

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 22:34:39 GMT

The Collection Care Company has dates scheduled for emergency management courses in Auckland for 2023

Website: www.collectioncare.co.nz

Eventbrite Course Information: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/emergency-management-training-for-heritage-1540559?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

#IconBPG21 Triennial agenda and early bird tickets

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 18:42:58 GMT

The ICON Book and Paper Group have announced the agenda and ticket sales for the #IconBPG21 upcoming conference are live. The conference will take place over four afternoons, from October 4th to October 7th, 2021, and will be held online on Accelevents, an all-inclusive and interactive conferencing platform.

The Conference theme is Mod Cons: Modern Conservation. Modern Constraints. Modern Conveniences.

To view the conference agenda and ticket sales click here

29th IIC Biennial Congress 2022, Wellington

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 21:21:54 GMT

2022 Congress Announced!

IIC is thrilled to announce the 29th IIC Biennial Congress 2022 will be located in New Zealand, in partnership with the New Zealand Conservators of Cultural Materials (NZCCM) in Wellington, NZ. Also thanks to 100% Pure New Zealand and Business Events Wellington.

In Memoriam: Valerie Carson

Genevieve Silvester — Mon, 04 May 2020 10:24:51 GMT

RACHAEL COLLINGE and RANGI TE KANAWA—Valerie Carson, Textile Conservator, passed away on Tuesday 21 January surrounded by her family in Whanganui. Valerie was so much more to us than just a colleague, we loved her dearly and will miss her terribly. Her presence is still felt in the lab, her hand writing still visible on our scissors and in our conservation files. Valerie Carson, Textile Conservator, lover of textiles, travel and tassels. She gave so much to us she is now part of our DNA. Valerie we thank you with all our hearts. Valerie was New Zealand’s first textile conservator and worked at the Museum for more than 27 years before her retirement in 2007. Her first contact with the museum’s textile collection was as a volunteer with the Wellington Embroiders Guild. Valerie also taught embroidery at Wellington College. She believed these practical skills and those of an ex-dental nurse gave her the hand skills required for textile conservation. She liked to say she went from conserving teeth to conserving textiles. While working with the textile collection to improve the storage conditions, she recognised that further conservation training was required. In 1979 she travelled to the UK, completing the textile conservation course run by Karen Finch OBE at the Textile Conservation Centre, then based at Hampton Court Palace. Her application to study was supported by Dr John Yaldwn and she received funding from the Interim Conservation Council, Historic Places Trust, The federation of University Women and a grant from the Mobil Environmental Scheme. Valerie spent a year away from her family and three children to complete her conservation studies. On her return to New Zealand she worked at the Conservation Unit at the National Art Gallery and Museum working alongside Jack Fry until the establishment of Te Papa. She worked across the collections caring for textile items in the social history collection, Pacific collection and taonga Māori. She particularly loved the kakahu collection and recognised the importance of this collection and the challenge of preserving the black paru dyed textiles. For this, she made possible, and supported the entire career, of a Māori textile conservator. She worked with volunteers, community groups and museum staff sharing her knowledge and passion for textiles. As a consequence textiles across the county have benefited from improved storage and awareness of conservation practice. Valerie recognised the importance of growing conservation and mentored many of us. She was so generous with her skills and time. Her mentoring was not just confined to conservation and the academic study of textiles. She was always concerned with our wellbeing. She was loving, kind and compassionate and so much fun. Valerie loved to travel and combined this with her textile interests leading a number of textile tours through India and following the Silk Route. Valerie developed a personal textile collection and many of the textiles were collected on these travels. More details on Valerie’s life and career can be seen at https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2020/02/17/valeriecarson-1936-2020-the-pioneer-of-new-zealand-textile-conservation/.

Photo credit: Valerie Carson in the Elgar room of the Colonial Museum, 1992. Photo by A. Marchant. Te Papa

Meet your 2020 exec committee: Anna Whitehead

Genevieve Silvester — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 21:59:07 GMT

Anna Whitehead: Wellington Regional Rep

Anna has been your Wellington rep for 1.5 years. This year is seeing a large part of her role being involved in the Conference Planning Committee. Originally from Sweden and the UK, Anna is a book and paper conservator with many years in private practice. Since 2015 she has been conservator at Archives New Zealand in Wellington, with responsibilities for the care of the records of government including the constitutional documents in the He Tohu exhibition. In her spare time Anna enjoys her rural living, her 11 sheep, 8 ducks and 4 hens, and is involved with the local Birds NZ group for which she writes a monthly column in the local paper about the awesome birds to be seen in the Wairarapa.

Covid 19 Update

Genevieve Silvester — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 09:21:16 GMT

A Message From Your President

Kia ora tātou,

In light of the new and rapidly changing situation that we are all finding ourselves in I just wanted to email you all on behalf of the NZCCM executive team.

Firstly I hope that you and all your families and friends are well and taken care of. Conservation is a small and very friendly profession and I’m sure we all have friends and colleagues as well as families both inside and outside New Zealand who we are thinking about at the moment.

At present our annual conference committee are continuing to plan for this year’s conference in October, and details of the proposed dates and calls for papers will go out soon. We are aware that a number of conferences have already been postponed, however, the committee and exec will continue to review the situation and the options available to us and keep you informed. Not only is our conference an important time from an organisational perspective but it is also a really important networking and sharing opportunity for us all and we are keen to find a way for this is continue in one format or another.

In addition to this, the exec will continue to work on a number of projects that we believe will benefit all our members including improvements to our website, a workforce survey and advocacy. I am also working with the exec, a number of other NZCCM members and Tourism New Zealand to submit a bid at the start of May to host the 2022 IIC Congress in Wellington. More details around this will be in the forthcoming newsletter. That said if you feel there are things you would like us to be doing that we aren’t, myself and the regional reps are open to any ideas or suggestions you may have. I can be contacted directly using the details at the end of this message.

I would also encourage you help us promote the work of conservators across our website and social media channels. At a time when an increasing number of institutions are either temporarily closing or planning for closure (https://www.ndf.org.nz/covid19-and-nz-glams) it is more important than ever to remind people what it is we do and why its important. I know this may not seem a high priority and in comparison to people’s health it isn’t. However, I believe that we need to continue to promote conservation and its place in New Zealand’s cultural landscape at a time when funds and funding are likely to grow increasingly stretched. For any of you who are well but bored in self-isolation or having to work from home we would love any blogs or other content you’re happy to share. We will also be making efforts to share content and helpful resources from our conservation and GLAM’s colleagues overseas with you.

Finally though this is a very uncertain time for many of us I am aware that those members that work as freelancers are likely to feel the affects of reduced spending and the postponement of projects most keenly. As I am sure those of you who are self employed are aware there is support available to you as part of the Governments economic package announced earlier this week, details of which can be found at on the Work and Income website. I am also aware that this might be a particularly difficult time for our self employed members from a stress and mental health point of view and I’d encourage you to reach out and talk to those around you or if needed to contact 1737 via phone or text if you need support.

I am very keen to hear from our freelance members with any suggestions about what NZCCM could be doing for you in particular at this time. I would also been keen to hear about the impacts that the current situation is having on your business if you are happy to share that information as it will help us consider how best to work with allied professional groups around advocacy.

Apologies for the long message at the start of the weekend but the exec and I did think it was important to let you know what the NZCCM is doing. I hope you all have a good weekend and stay well.

Ngā mihi nui

Nyssa