New home for New Zealand's taonga

Archives NZ and the National Library are legally bound to collect, preserve, protect and make accessible the country’s documentary heritage. The Chief Archivist and National Librarian are statutorily independent roles.

Many different people and organisations use the holdings and collections which include written documents, audio and visual recordings, paintings and photographs. Along with the public, writers, academics, legal researchers, professional historians, journalists, genealogists, and film and documentary makers use the collections.

In 2017/18 the National Library and Archives New Zealand had 67,000 reading room visits, and 125,000 visits to public programmes.

A competitive tender process was completed for the Archives Wellington facility. AMP Capital Investors NZ Limited, (fund manager of the ownership entity, PSPIB/CPPIB Waiheke Inc.) was the preferred supplier. A Conditional Development agreement was signed recently by the Crown and AMP Capital.

Final approval of the new building is conditional on cost and funding. The costs of the project will be known once we have completed the design stage in early 2021.

It is anticipated construction will commence mid 2021, with the Archives facility scheduled for completion in late 2024.

The existing Archives facility at 10 Mulgrave Street is at full capacity, the building is also at the end of its economic life. There are several building issues that compromise its ability to effectively preserve our documentary heritage over the long term.

Over 60% of the Archives and National Library property portfolio is no longer fit-for-purpose.

Archives NZ and the National Library hold legal responsibility to collect, preserve, protect and make accessible this documentary heritage. They are the stewards of our nation’s irreplaceable taonga.

Two years of planning and analysis has been completed to develop a robust business case. A tender process identified the Aitken Street site as a viable solution, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a heritage precinct within the Thorndon area, with a co-location and shared services opportunity.

An air-bridge physically connecting the National Library to the new Archives facility provides an opportunity to integrate our holdings and collections in the same location to improve physical access and provide greater convenience for the public and customers.

Initial work has been undertaken to develop an operating model for co-location and collaboration. Potential co-location services include: reading rooms, conservation, preservation and digitisation laboratories, specialist repository and processing areas. Greater collaboration between the institutions provides an excellent opportunity for sharing knowledge and skills.

Preserving the Nation’s Memory (PtNM) programme will bring together New Zealand Archives, and the National Library of New Zealand to deliver a vibrant, trusted, and accessible heritage hub putting the people of Aotearoa front and centre.

It is anticipated construction will commence mid 2021, with the Archives facility scheduled for completion in late 2024.

Refurbishment is not practical or financially viable for the existing 10 Mulgrave Street building. A complete rebuild would be necessary, and at a higher overall cost. This would also require the holdings to be moved twice, increasing risk, and creating greater interruption to service delivery, estimated at up to 7 years.

We have signed a Conditional Development Agreement with the owner of the Aitken Street site and funding has been secured to progress to the detailed design stage. Further funding approval is required to progress to the construction and lease commitment phase.

Funding allocated in Budget 2019 was to progress the design and resource consent planning for a new Archives Wellington building.

Final approval of the new building is conditional on cost and funding. The costs of the project will be known once we have completed the design stage in early 2021.

It is anticipated construction will commence mid 2021, with the Archives facility scheduled for completion in late 2024.

Many different people and organisations use the holdings and collections - writers, academics, legal researchers, professional historians, journalists, genealogists, and film and documentary makers.

In 2017/18 the National Library and Archives New Zealand had 67,000 reading room visits, and 125,000 visits to public programmes.

Digital services are an important part of the future and we are working hard to improve how the public access our documentary heritage online. However, there is still a vast amount of paper documents that have already been created that need to be transferred to our care.

There will always be a need for the physical storage of and access to our collections and holdings.

We anticipate the demand for physical storage will be maintained to 2030 and thereafter slow to 2045.

The new Archives facility will be completed in late 2024. It is anticipated that transfers would recommence shortly after.

The transfer of public records maintains trust in government transparency and democratic accountability. While records remain in public offices it gives rise to several issues:

• storage in sub-optimal conditions in public offices, where the integrity of the holdings is compromised,

• reduced accessibility, and

• security risks.

The current Archives NZ, Mulgrave Street property is Crown owned land and no decision has yet been made. The Department of Internal Affairs was notified by the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust in December 2016 of its wish to buy the land beneath the National Library and Archives following their Treaty settlement in 2009.

Refurbishment is not practical or financially viable for the existing 10 Mulgrave Street building. A complete rebuild would be necessary, and at a higher overall cost. This would also require the holdings to be moved twice, increasing risk, and creating greater interruption to service delivery, estimated at up to 7 years.