[2] In 2005, the Fifth Labour Government passed the Public Records Act 2005[7] to deal with digital archives and the creation of state-owned enterprises.
[19] Its design has been created with te ao Māori worldview in mind, with design agency Tīhei and Māori sculptural artist Rangi Kipa working alongside architects Warren & Mahoney to “connect the building to the land it sits on and acknowledge the tūpuna who lived there before”.
[18] The Department of Internal Affairs is working alongside Fund Managers AMP Capital Ltd. to build the new Archives facility with construction partners, LT McGuiness.
For Archives New Zealand, they act as underpinning principles for their purpose of collecting, preserving, and providing access to records which hold historical, legal and cultural significance.
[36] Under section 27 of the Public Records Act 2005, the Chief Archivist of Archives New Zealand holds this responsibility and has issued such standards.
[39] The standard also supports the rights of Māori, under the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi to access, use and reuse any information and records that are taonga.
Therefore, managing information and records appropriately is important in various different ways for Archives NZ including enabling the public to hold the government accountable; helps any organisations plan for and achieve their objectives; gives information to support informed decision making; outlines individual responsibilities; documents individuals and different groups entitlements; encourages collaboration and communication; facilities groups to be creative and also ensures that important public knowledge is available for research, discovery and reuse.
Their regulatory tools include: The Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga is an unincorporated body established under the Public Records Act 2005.
Records held include the originals of the Treaty of Waitangi, government documents, maps, paintings, photographs and film.
In fact, the institution also collects a wide range of materials that document New Zealand's social, cultural, and economic history.
These papers may include diaries, letters, and photographs that provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of New Zealanders in different periods of history.
These archives may include records of local organisations and events, such as sports clubs, churches, and community groups, that reflect the social and cultural diversity of New Zealand.
Archives New Zealand has developed preservation programs and facilities to ensure that records are protected from damage and degradation.
[54] Access to holdings is available through four reading rooms in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and through a remote reference service.
[56] While most records held by Archives New Zealand are open to the public, some access restrictions may apply based on factors such as the sensitivity of the information and the privacy of individuals.
A selection of records are also available on Archives New Zealand's social media channels, including YouTube and Flickr.
[65] In May 2017, a new permanent archive exhibition He Tohu, opened at the National Library of New Zealand building on Molesworth Street, Wellington.
He Tohu is accompanied by an education and outreach programme including an online component to make it accessible for those not Wellington-based.
The original thought was that it should be open to public, serving as more of an interest group rather than limiting membership to archive professionals only.
Namely, ARANZ serves as a leader regarding best industry practice for care, preservation, and administration of historical records; they hold an advocacy role for the sector which includes submissions to government regarding enhancements to existing legislation; a further role includes facilitating employee upskilling through shared knowledge as well advisory duties to appropriate educational facilities; and they produce regular publications and reports to facilitate these functions.
[76] Overall, due to ARANZ and their role as a key stakeholder in the sector, Archives New Zealand is supported in achieving their objectives outlined in the Public Records Act 2005.