The Pacific Collection Access Project (PCAP) team is pleased to inform you that we have in place a recycling process for some of our materials.

I'm Valerie, Storage Technician for PCAP, and my role involves coming up with custom storage solutions for each of our taonga. These storage solutions need to be durable to maintain the longevity of the object as well as respectful to the objects' needs.

I use acid-free paper, approved polyethylene foam, archival boxes, and cotton tape as these are all recommended archival materials that are designed to limit any deterioration of museum objects.

While rehousing our Pacific Collection, I'm finding that I'm creating lots of off-cuts and cast-offs that are no longer fit for the project's purpose. We are tackling this challenge by reusing materials as much as possible to be environmental and cost friendly.

Marcus Capes (Senior Storage Technician for PCAP) reached out to the Museum's polyethylene foam supplier who has offered to recycle all our foam off-cuts free of charge. The acid-free paper sheets still have plenty of use in them too. Acid-free tissue paper is multi-purpose and widely used; for wrapping delicate objects, protection from light, and as a barrier between objects. It is also used to keep objects in shape, like hats and other fabric garments. It is a resource we would like to donate to local community groups that may need it or might not necessarily have the funding or monetary resources to purchase large quantities of it.

So we can make sure none of our waste will affect our whenua, we have so far donated a large bag to Howick Historical Village in East Auckland, to the beautiful Falepipi he Mafola Niuean Handcraft Group in Ōtāhuhu, and we have sent a bag full to Fiji carried by a friend of the PCAP, Joanna Monolagi, to pass on to the Fiji Museum, Suva.

So if you are part of a local Auckland community non-profit group or planning to go to the islands and could help take some resources to any cultural heritage institutions there - please contact [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.