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    Building stories -- the art of the project manager in exhibition development : an analysis of Death and Diversity at Wellington Museum : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Museum Studies, at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2016) Fafeita, Brent Raymond
    This thesis examines the role of both project management and the project manager in museum exhibition development at one museum. Specifically it investigates the necessity of such practice and the various inherent factors that lead to exhibition development success. It argues that project management is not only vital to this success but that such success is dependent on the unique skill and ability of the project manager. Ultimately this thesis advocates for a special breed of project manager suited to the museum environment. Owing to limited museum-based research in this field, it is unclear how effective project management is in developing museum exhibitions and subsequently, understanding the effectiveness of the project manager’s contributions to this process. This research provides a much-needed qualitative study that not only examines the role, but also provides insight into the mindset of one such professional. In addition to introducing museum project management, an in-depth case study focusing on the Wellington Museum (former Museum of Wellington City & Sea) investigates the intricacies associated with this practice. In particular it centres on the Death and Diversity exhibition staged in 2011, where the Museum initiated an inaugural project manager role and then retained it for a large-scale capital development planned for completion in 2020. Utilising qualitative research methods this thesis builds three sections: a context chapter, one case study, and an ethnographic study. Open-ended, in-depth interviewing of both the Museum’s project manager and the director give valuable insight into the practice and perceptions about the role. An observational study examines project manager behaviour and interaction during project meetings. The analysis highlights the complexities of contemporary exhibition development. In an increasingly evolving and resource-limited world of equally increasing scrutiny, this advocates for a profession tailor-made for such complexity in the unique museum environment.
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    Julius Haast, the Canterbury museum and Māori : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Māori Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2011) Cooper, Elaine Marguerite
    The thesis explores Haast‟s attitudes towards Māori through his activities as Director of the Canterbury Museum. This is achieved by examining his archaeology, his treatment of Māori human remains, his displays of Māori culture, and his historical theories concerning Māori. These questions will be addressed through four case studies drawn from Haast‟s work as curator. The first involves Haast‟s archaeological excavations and theories. The second study concerns the acquisition and display of Māori human remains, particularly those from Moa-bone Point Cave near Sumner in Christchurch. The third study concerns Haast‟s displays of Māori culture through the museum‟s collections and especially the Māori House Haast acquired for the Canterbury Museum. The final study looks at the display Haast curated as supervisor for the New Zealand Court at the Colinderies Exhibition in London. From these studies, general conclusions concerning Haast‟s relationships with and attitudes toward Māori are drawn.
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    Developing digital media for museum exhibitions : environment, collaboration and delivery : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Museum Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2011) Phillips, Neil Anthony
    This thesis explores the development and deployment of digital media in museum exhibitions. This thesis aims to discover how developing digital media contributes to new exhibition methodology and development processes in museums by investigating the development of the Tangata o le Moana exhibition at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa). A detailed study of the Tangata o le Moana exhibition at Te Papa, and two digital media elements within it; the New Home: Land of Plenty? video installation, and the Pacific Beats Mixing Booth, are the focus of the research. My experience of the exhibition is recorded. This is followed by participant interviews with the 3D designer and Interpreter. Development documents and organizational archives reveal motivations and goals in developing digital media for exhibitions. In order to place the research in a wider context of exhibition design and visitor behaviour, it focused on three key elements in exhibition creation - environment (the physical and social space), collaboration (the effect of the relationships on development) and delivery (the exhibition). This data is compared with current literature regarding exhibition development. The research demonstrates that by incorporating digital media into exhibitions a new relationship in the exhibition space develops. New museological ideas that place exhibitions in an open-ended framework can align with constructivist learning techniques. Combined with experiential environments and creating liminal experiences, there is significant potential for digital media to contribute to new exhibition methodologies. The environmental effects of digital media combined with the focus on the media content rather than ‘real things’ indicates a divergence from traditional museum practice. The thesis argues that these experiential and liminal experiences are largely incidental. Narrative forms of exhibition development predominate. This indicates that involving collaborators with expertise in digital media and experience design is not contributing to developing new exhibition practices.