Archives and Library Independence still threatened

Archives and Library Independence still requires protecting

The constitutional roles of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian remain at risk despite the Government’s claims that they have mitigated the effects of its move to merge Archives New Zealand and the National Library into Internal Affairs, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today.

“The independence of the two positions is still hugely impacted by being brought under the control of the Department of Internal Affairs,” Grant Robertson said.

“Archives and the National Library were separated from the DIA just a decade ago to ensure transparency in the activities of government. Achieving that requires statutory independence, but the new structure does not deliver that.

"According to Cabinet papers released last week under the new structure the Chief Archivist and National Librarian will be ‘employed by the Chief Executive and be accountable to the Chief Executive for the exercise of his or her functions and powers,’. While this situation exists, the Minister's claims of protecting independence are just words.

“Their important constitutional roles of ensuring transparent government and keeping an accurate historical record remain at risk as they lose their independence.

“The Chief Archivist needs to be in the position to enforce the law that requires other government agencies to keep and deposit their records. That will be compromised with a re-merger into Internal Affairs.

"The government has failed to make a real case for why these changes are necessary and how they will deliver better services to the New Zealand public. The financial benefits from the Library and Archives merger have been costed as delivering as little as $165,000 annually in savings, but will see at least 15 jobs go.

"The only justification seems to be around the digitisation of records. While this is an important undertaking it is by no means the full picture of the work of Archives and Library.

"Archives and Library are important cultural institutions and part of our core constitutional framework. That should not be put at risk because of an ideological view. The government should be focused on protecting what works- and the independent Archives and Library are working."

ENDS