The acquisition of the Partington Collection by Whanganui Regional Museum : valuing relationships in museum policy & practice : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorCarroll, Rowan Amber
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-30T00:15:47Z
dc.date.availableNO_RESTRICTIONen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-30T00:15:47Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this thesis is to underline the importance of developing useful and mutually beneficial relationships between local iwi and museums, and to consider the subsequent implications for museum practice. The thesis assembles a variety of contemporary sources in order to document and construct a chronological narrative of events: minutes and communications; interviews with staff and key participants in the process of acquiring the Partington Collection by the Whanganui Regional Museum; media reports; and a survey of recent literature. The Partington Collection of Whanganui Maori photographs is integral to this examination because of its importance to both Whanganui iwi and the Whanganui Regional Museum. The situation of colonial photography in museums has changed over the century from being viewed as a factual reflection of the cultural imperatives of indigenous peoples, to being viewed as a colonial construct consigning indigenous peoples to their past. Because this Collection is the most comprehensive photographic documentary of Whanganui Maori from the turn of last century it adds immense value to the Museum’s existing collections. However to Whanganui iwi the photographs of their ancestors are taonga tuku iho: far more than just photographic images they are demonstrably and undeniably imbued with the mana of their tupuna. The public auction in 2001 of the Partington Collection created a catalyst for action and an opportunity for Whanganui iwi and the Museum to work together to ensure the return of the photographs to Whanganui, an outcome that was finally achieved in 2002. The thesis concludes that the successful return of the Partington Collection to Whanganui could not have been possible without the long term evolving relationship between iwi and the Museum and in particular the more recent emergence of a bi-cameral governance structure. Furthermore the maintenance of relationships and communication is crucial to the evolution of museum practice. This would suggest a reversal of the traditional perspective that museum practice and procedure is pre-eminent. Instead, this case study demonstrates that relationships are at the heart of museum practice.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/881
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectLocal iwien_US
dc.subjectInterviewsen_US
dc.subjectColonial photographsen_US
dc.subjectAncestral photographsen_US
dc.subjectIwi
dc.subject.otherFields of Research::410000 The Arts::419900 Other Arts::419999 The arts not elsewhere classifieden_US
dc.titleThe acquisition of the Partington Collection by Whanganui Regional Museum : valuing relationships in museum policy & practice : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorCarroll, Rowan Amber
thesis.degree.disciplineMuseum Studiesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (M.A.)en_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
02whole.pdf
Size:
4.24 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
01front.pdf
Size:
112.49 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
895 B
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Theses and Dissertations