Auckland War Memorial Museum and Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), New Zealand’s largest Pacific institution, have entered into an exciting working relationship.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signaling this relationship was signed at an event at the museum today (1pm, 14 February 2013).
Under the agreement a museum representative will join the Community Advisory Board of MIT’s planned Pasifika Centre. The Pasifika Centre is planned to be an iconic structure and a focal point for the Pasifika communities in south Auckland, Aotearoa and the wider Pacific region. Plans and further details for the project will be announced soon.

Through the Community Advisory Board, the organisations will work together as anchor institutions within Auckland to boost Pasifika educational achievement, social and cultural development and economic growth.

Dr Peter Brothers, Chief Executive of MIT says: “It is important for MIT that we be fully accessible to our community. We want everyone to see MIT as being a place that includes them. The museum has goals very similar to ours, and we are delighted to be able to work even closer as we reach out together with different learning opportunities for all.”

Director of Auckland Museum Roy Clare says: “Auckland Museum’s internationally significant collections include many important Pacific taonga. Our teams of expert curators, public programmers and other colleagues are committed to work with MIT to lift our capacity as a place of learning and engagement.

“This new partnership with MIT will help us fulfill the ambitious goals of our recently-published 20 year strategy Future Museum and make a major contribution to the success of the Auckland Plan. It will enable us to serve the public better and share the museum’s collections, skills and insights with all Aucklanders – whether that takes place onsite, online or out in the community.”

Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the largest institutes of technology in New Zealand, and for over 40 years has delivered tertiary education and training to a large proportion of the communities in the Counties Manukau region. MIT delivers a comprehensive portfolio of foundation, certificate, diploma and degree programmes that are closely aligned with skills demand and regional need in Counties Manukau. It has over 18,000 students, with Pacific students comprising 34%. MIT offers 1510 courses, 175 programmes and 10 degrees.

Auckland Museum traces its lineage to 1852 when it was established in a farm workers’ cottage. In the 2011/12 year the museum hosted 849,000 visitors onsite, achieved 409,500 unique visits to its websites and grew its programme of community engagement. In the past six months the museum has strengthened its capacity to deliver programmes which engage Pasifika communities.

For further information:

At Manukau Institute of Technology: Senior Communications Advisor Andrea Svendsen, 027 568 8755

At Auckland Museum: Head of Communications, Phil Johnstone, 021 501 380

High res photo available on request.

Image: Roy Clare with MIT CEO Dr Peter Brothers