I was recently involved in a partnership project between Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Te Runanga o Ngati Porou and the Department of Conservation where we worked together to map an archaeological site which is very significant. Working in partnership to achieve these heritage goals is something we can contribute as an organisation.

The outcomes of the archaeological authority process tell very detailed and interesting stories about the early settlement of New Zealand and the opportunity to be involved in sharing these amazing archaeological stories with the communities they relate to is very exciting.

Why do you think your work is so important? 

Understanding the history of New Zealand and how it has shaped our identity as a people and as a country I believe is essential to going forward without repeating the issues of the past. And the best way to do that is to reveal the stories associated with that past.

Heritage New Zealand owns and manages a property portfolio of over 40 places for the public of New Zealand. These places reflect significant stories associated with the history of New Zealand and include places where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.

So on Waitangi Day, 6th February, (the first day the Treaty of Waitangi was signed with tangata whenua in 1840) Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga opens our properties to the public for free. We include as part of that day a copy of the Treaty that was signed at our property in Northland and fly, and have information available about, all of New Zealand’s flags through time and their significance.

Telling a range of important heritage stories, and undertaking heritage activities in partnership with other agencies is an opportunity to encourage the public to better understand our country.

What’s it like working as a woman in your organisation? 

I came from an organisation where there were very few of us working in the field, to an organisation which has a strong representation of women across all aspects of the organisation. This provides a strong and supportive working environment.

Do you think the industry you work in has changed over the last 100 years for women?

Absolutely. Over the last 35 years I have seen an enormous change in the role of women in the public service which has been driven by the education system and women themselves.  As an honours student at university I was told that the sought after holiday job would be going to my male counterpart as he would have a career in archaeology and I would go off and have children.

Women are now employed for our skills and better represented across the public sector. However there is a range of research which indicates there is still a disparity of pay in some places between men and women doing the same job.

What question would you like to ask another inspirational woman from one of our international organisations? 

Why do you think the heritage profession attracts more women than other professional organisations?