Low status will stifle Archives NZ and National Library

The Public Service Association (PSA) is greatly disappointed that the Secretary of Internal Affairs has ignored advice on the proposed status of the National Library and Archives NZ within the newly merged Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

“The PSA warned that embedding these agencies within the department’s Knowledge, Information and Technology (IT) group and downgrading the Chief Archivist and National Librarian to third tier managers risked stifling the ability of each agency to carry out its role,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“DIA’s chief executive Brendon Boyle says placing the National Library and Archives NZ within IT allows for digital advancement but we maintain that this is a regressive move.

“The National Library is responsible for documenting New Zealand’s social, cultural and economic activity while Archives keeps the records of government for future generations.

“These responsibilities represent what’s involved in safeguarding our national heritage. Much of that taonga is still in the form of physical records. Slotting both institutions into an IT group will makes this vital task much harder to achieve.

“While legislation provides for the statutory independence of the National Librarian and the Chief Archivist, exercising this independence will be challenging when these roles are not positioned within the senior leadership team,” says Brenda Pilott.

“Our members took their concerns to Select Committee and told Members of Parliament that the ability of the Chief Archivist to engage and influence record keeping throughout government would be seriously compromised by the role being downgraded to a third-tier manager.

“The loss of mana, both nationally and internationally, associated with downgrading the top positions in both the National Library and Archives NZ should not be underestimated. The leaders of these agencies will effectively be disabled.

“While we welcome a commitment from DIA’s chief executive Brendon Boyle that he will support the terms of the legislation which establishes both Archives NZ and the National Library as major cultural institution, we remain sceptical that their ranking will make this near impossible to maintain,” says Brenda Pilott.

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