81 scientists call for radical rethink of NZ museums

Friday, 15 March 2019

Eighty-one scientists are calling for a radical rethink of New Zealand museums, which they say lack staff, co-ordination and funding.

The statement, signed by scientists from universities and crown research institutes nationwide, calls for an urgent review of the national museum strategy and funding 'before it's too late'.

'This system currently operates as a group of largely independent regional institutions, lacking any co-ordinated vision. We argue that this model is not functioning adequately. Government intervention is required.'

Scientists' Museum Letter (1) by Anonymous jlKATDoSIW on Scribd

The statement recommends New Zealand's natural history treasures be treated as a single national collection, with greater collaboration and central government funding for regional museums.

* Te Papa slammed by 30 international experts over restructure making scientists redundant

* Scientists' association deplores Te Papa's axing of two experts

* World-leading science experts made redundant in Te Papa restructure**

The petition follows national and international outrage over Te Papa's decision to axe two world-class scientists, in a controversial restructure that critics have argued jeopardises critical and irreplaceable knowledge and would compromise the care of the national collections.

Mike Dickison, a former natural history curator at Whanganui Museum who started his career at Te Papa in 1990, was one of the signatories. He called for a long-term national vision for museums, instead of piecemeal fights to save key scientists.

'I'm hoping that the outcry that happened at Te Papa, where people have realised expertise is just casually being lost, would call for more radical demands, like a doubling of Te Papa's capacity in natural history research … rather than just fighting this rear-guard action to stop some of the final cuts at the end of the series of cuts.'

A Royal Society 2015 report highlighted a national and global shortage of expertise in taxonomy - identifying, describing and naming New Zealand's flora and fauna, which underpins everything from identifying biosecurity pests to understanding relationships between different organisms. That should have sparked a concerted plan between all research organisations to pour funding into building up taxonomy expertise, Dickison said.

Mollusc scientist Bruce Marshall was one of two internationally renowned experts made redundant in Te Papa's controversial restructure.

Instead, New Zealand had critical knowledge shortages, including just one fulltime researcher covering around 2000 moths and butterflies, many of which are critically endangered, he said.

'We don't know what we've got in the this country, let alone how we're going to save it.'

Te Papa argues its restructure modernises its curation structure and creates a career pathway for new scientists, in line with the 2015 Royal Society review, which highlighted concerns about a lack of succession plans in taxonomy. However, that report also found taxonomists were an endangered species, and expertise took 10-15 years to build up.

Scientists from around New Zealand are calling for better national co-ordination of our natural history collections.

Te Papa molluscs expert Bruce Marshall was one of two world-leading scientists made redundant in Te Papa's controversial restructure.

Highly regarded fish collection manager Andrew Stewart has lost his job (subject to appeal) in Te Papa's controversial restructure.

Former Whanganui Museum natural history curator Mike Dickison wants to see early-career researchers employed in regional museums to build taxonomic expertise.

Dickison recommended central government could build taxonomic expertise by funding post-doctoral natural history research positions in regional museums, with mentoring by experienced experts in larger institutions such as Te Papa.

'This needs to happen while the senior curators are still on staff, so they can work alongside them for 5-10 years, not after they've been made redundant.'

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is currently reviewing all national collections.

Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Grant Robertson, would not commit to a national museum review but 'welcomed ongoing dialogue with the sector on the issues it is facing and where it sees the Government might take a leadership role'.

'As the national museum, Te Papa has a responsibility to co-operate with and assist other New Zealand museums in establishing a national service, and in providing appropriate support to other institutions and organisations holding objects or collections of national importance.'