Introduction
This is a proposal to establish an independent, multi-disciplinary, bi-cultural heritage institute for Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ). One of the fundamental issues in heritage management here is that each heritage-related discipline has a separate organisational body with a separate identity and there is no overarching national body able to advocate for the heritage profession as a whole. The need for such an organisation has been identified by a number of organisations and practitioners. This is a proposal is to establish such an organisation to provide a bicultural forum where practitioners from a range of inter-related disciplines associated with the practice and promotion of heritage receive support and training, and undergo a robust registration process that enables them to practice as accredited members of the heritage profession. It is envisioned that membership will be open to institutions and individuals including students, academics and practitioners.
Aims
The aims of the Heritage Institute will be:
The Institute will work closely with tertiary institutes and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to establish appropriate training programmes for undergraduate, graduate training, and on-going professional development. The training needs of organisations and voluntary societies will be incorporated in the training programme. Codes of ethics and standards of practice will be developed as will processes for the regulation of the profession.
- To support the multi-disciplinary heritage sector ;
- To foster communication within the wider heritage sector;
- To promote cooperation, leadership and a shared vision for heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand;
- To promote the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and co-governance;
- To identify heritage education needs and research;
- To establish codes of ethics and practice; and
- To develop methods for defining the scope of practice, qualifications and experience required by heritage practitioners in order to provide for their accreditation.
The Institute will work closely with tertiary institutes and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to establish appropriate training programmes for undergraduate, graduate training, and on-going professional development. The training needs of organisations and voluntary societies will be incorporated in the training programme. Codes of ethics and standards of practice will be developed as will processes for the regulation of the profession.
Background
The heritage sector in ANZ comprises people working across many disciplines including archaeology, conservation architecture, heritage studies, history, museum studies, cultural studies, Maori studies and heritage, conservation, heritage planning, archives and libraries, geography, oral history and genealogy. These people work for and on behalf of the people of ANZ. Whilst many have their own organisations there is no overarching organisation that registers, supports, or monitors these specialists, which is a matter of public and professional concern.
Several attempts have been made at various times by different disciplines to establish such an organisation, e.g. in the 1980s the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) attempted to set up an Institute for such a purpose. There are also organisations such as the Professional Historians Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (PHANZA) and ICOMOS New Zealand that specialists belong to, but these organisations do not have an accreditation or regulatory function.
A major concern within the heritage sector is heritage education. Key elements to ensuring a competent, reliable and professional heritage sector in New Zealand include understanding and providing for the educational needs of students and specialists, as well as the ongoing professional development of heritage practitioners. A number of disciplines and organisations do provide for their own specialist training, but there is no integrating, overseeing body that can direct and advocate for the specific requirements of the total heritage sector.
There are problems associated with each discipline establishing a separate accreditation system. Heritage is by its very nature inter-disciplinary and involves the co-operation of people with different skills as well as the support and involvement of the many different communities and groups in ANZ. Additionally each discipline/profession does not have a sufficient number of members to establish a professional organisation and consequently the economic base for such an organisation would not be viable.
Several attempts have been made at various times by different disciplines to establish such an organisation, e.g. in the 1980s the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) attempted to set up an Institute for such a purpose. There are also organisations such as the Professional Historians Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (PHANZA) and ICOMOS New Zealand that specialists belong to, but these organisations do not have an accreditation or regulatory function.
A major concern within the heritage sector is heritage education. Key elements to ensuring a competent, reliable and professional heritage sector in New Zealand include understanding and providing for the educational needs of students and specialists, as well as the ongoing professional development of heritage practitioners. A number of disciplines and organisations do provide for their own specialist training, but there is no integrating, overseeing body that can direct and advocate for the specific requirements of the total heritage sector.
There are problems associated with each discipline establishing a separate accreditation system. Heritage is by its very nature inter-disciplinary and involves the co-operation of people with different skills as well as the support and involvement of the many different communities and groups in ANZ. Additionally each discipline/profession does not have a sufficient number of members to establish a professional organisation and consequently the economic base for such an organisation would not be viable.
Organisational Structure
Initially it is proposed to set up an independent incorporated society with a co-governance structure to ensure that the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi are embedded in the organisation. An Incorporated Society does not have the power to register/accredit a profession, but a society is able to set down rules for its own members. If members breach those rules they can lose their membership which will be a significant threat if the Society has become important to the public and members. Further information about incorporated societies.
The Society cannot regulate the entire profession unless it is authorised to do so by the government, e.g. the Law Society regulates lawyers because the Law Practitioners Act gives them the authority. This will require expert help, which will be expensive, because the standard of drafting for a private Act of Parliament is much higher than a set of rules for an Incorporated Society. The “strength” of the rules will remain the same – i.e. members lose their membership if they breach the rules, but the complexity of the rules will go up considerably with legislation because it will be necessary to set up a disciplinary committee.
In order to achieve accreditation the Institute will need to work towards regulation by government. Regulation will change the society from an incorporated society to a statutory body and its objectives and powers will be written into the legislation, not into a set of rules. The purpose of the Incorporated Society is to achieve a mandate from the members to work towards regulation by government within three to five years. It is anticipated that the Incorporated Society will then be wound up and replaced by a statutory society.
The Society cannot regulate the entire profession unless it is authorised to do so by the government, e.g. the Law Society regulates lawyers because the Law Practitioners Act gives them the authority. This will require expert help, which will be expensive, because the standard of drafting for a private Act of Parliament is much higher than a set of rules for an Incorporated Society. The “strength” of the rules will remain the same – i.e. members lose their membership if they breach the rules, but the complexity of the rules will go up considerably with legislation because it will be necessary to set up a disciplinary committee.
In order to achieve accreditation the Institute will need to work towards regulation by government. Regulation will change the society from an incorporated society to a statutory body and its objectives and powers will be written into the legislation, not into a set of rules. The purpose of the Incorporated Society is to achieve a mandate from the members to work towards regulation by government within three to five years. It is anticipated that the Incorporated Society will then be wound up and replaced by a statutory society.
Actions To Date
To date informal discussions have taken place with a number of people representing various heritage organisations, all of whom have been receptive to the idea, which indicates that there is a sufficient body of support throughout the country for the establishment of a Heritage Institute. This proposal has been prepared with the assistance of several practitioners. Information about the best way to proceed towards an accrediting society has been sought from a legal colleague.
A meeting took place in Wellington on Sunday 3 March 2013 and decisions were made about the next steps to take. It was proposed to set up a website to circulate information about the proposal etc. The minutes of this meeting are included in the events section of the web site.
A meeting took place in Wellington on Sunday 3 March 2013 and decisions were made about the next steps to take. It was proposed to set up a website to circulate information about the proposal etc. The minutes of this meeting are included in the events section of the web site.
Next Steps
This web-site will ensure that the proposal is widely disseminated. It is also a place of contact for interested people.
A working party has been established to develop the rules necessary to proceed to the establishment of an incorporated society.
A meeting is being arranged for interested people in Auckland with the date and venue yet to be confirmed but it will be advertised on the events page.
If you would like a meeting somewhere else, or wish to register your interest in the proposal, or have any comments to make please email: info@heritageinstitute.org.nz
The informal meetings and contact arrangements will be formalised by a meeting of interested parties in mid 2013. At this meeting the Institute’s rules will be agreed upon on and an application to become an incorporated society will be circulated and signed by at least 15 members.
A working party has been established to develop the rules necessary to proceed to the establishment of an incorporated society.
A meeting is being arranged for interested people in Auckland with the date and venue yet to be confirmed but it will be advertised on the events page.
If you would like a meeting somewhere else, or wish to register your interest in the proposal, or have any comments to make please email: info@heritageinstitute.org.nz
The informal meetings and contact arrangements will be formalised by a meeting of interested parties in mid 2013. At this meeting the Institute’s rules will be agreed upon on and an application to become an incorporated society will be circulated and signed by at least 15 members.