Ko wai mātou
Who we are
Find out about the people and groups who lead and advise us – including the Poumanaaki Chief Archivist, Minister responsible, Te Rua Wānanga Archives Council and Te Pae Whakawairua, our Māori advisory committee.
The Chief Archivist
The Chief Archivist holds a statutory role under the Public Records Act, and works to ensure the integrity of the record of government.
The Chief Archivist:
sets records and information management standards that public agencies must follow
reports to Parliament on the quality of information management and compliance with the Public Records Act across the state sector
acts independently in the disposal of public records
is co-leader of Te Rua Mahara o te Kawanatanga Archives NZ alongside the General Manager Archives.
Anahera Morehu
Anahera Morehu (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kahu) is the Poumanaaki Chief Archivist at Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand.
She is the country’s first Māori and wāhine Māori to hold this important statutory role in a permanent capacity. Anahera is an established leader across the Information Management sector and across iwi Māori.
Prior to joining Archives NZ, Anahera was Kaiārahi at the University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Faculty of Business and Economics. She was the immediate past president of the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.
Anahera has:
broad and deep experiences of Te Ao Māori
substantial knowledge of the documentary heritage and Information Management environments, the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums, Marae and Iwi information
awareness of Archives Te Tiriti o Waitangi aspirations.
Anahera is based in Tāmaki Makarau, Auckland.
Previous Chief Archivists
2020-2022 – Stephen Clarke (Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)
2018–2020 – Richard Foy (Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)
2017–2018 – Richard Foy (Acting Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)
2014-17 – Marilyn Little (Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)
2011-14 – Greg Goulding (Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)
2009-11 – Greg Goulding (Acting Chief Archivist)
2001-09 – Dianne Macaskill
2000-01 – Lyn Provost (Acting Chief Archivist)
1998-2000 – Chris Hurley (Acting Chief Archivist)
1991-98 – Kathryn Patterson
1982-91 – Ray Grover
1972-82 – Judith S. Hornabrook
1963-72 – John Pascoe
1962 – Michael Standish
1957-62 – Secretary of Internal Affairs exercised Chief Archivist powers
The Archives New Zealand Leadership Team
Three Regional Archivists, four Directors and the Chief Archivist make up the Archives New Zealand Leadership Team.
Catherine Smith – Regional Archivist, Dunedin
Joanna Condon – Regional Archivist, Christchurch
Taila Roth – Regional Archivist, Auckland
George Haimona – Kaihautū Rātonga Māori (Director, Services for Māori)
Louise McCrone – Director, Holdings and Discovery
Louise Harris – Director, Strategy
Antony Moss – Director, Government Recordkeeping
Minister responsible
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Brooke van Velden, is responsible for Archives New Zealand.
The Archives Council
Te Rua Wānanga, the Archives Council, meets four times a year and provides independent advice to the minister responsible for Archives New Zealand on recordkeeping and archives matters – including those for which tikanga Māori is relevant.
The inaugural Council was appointed on 31 August 2006 and consists of seven members. Council Members hold office for a term not exceeding three years and may be reappointed. Since its establishment the Archives Council has developed a Council Charter and has provided advice to the Minister on a range of issues, including the disposal of some of Archives New Zealand’s own records. See the Annual Reports for details.
Archives Council members
Current Archives Council members are:
Liz Sinclair (Chair) – Term expires 16 August 2025
Peter Adds (Deputy Chair) – Term expires 16 August 2025
Dougal McKechnie – Term expires 1 July 2026
Karaitiana Taiuru – Term expires 14 September 2024
Cameron Curd – Term expires 16 August 2025
Gareth Winter – Term expires 14 September 2024
Aroha Chamberlain – Term expires 1 July 2026
How members are appointed
Council members are appointed by the Minister responsible for Archives, who consults with the Minister for Māori Development and the Chief Archivist.
How the Council reports
Section 15 (3) of the Public Records Act 2005 requires that the Archives Council must report to the Minister each year on the performance of its functions during the preceding year. The Minister must, as soon as practicable after receiving the report, present it to the House of Representatives.
Archives Council Charter
The Charter lays out the functions of the Archives Council under the PRA, how it is governed and how it reports to the minister.
Read the Archives Council Charter (PDF 182KB)
Contact us for an accessible version of this document
Archives Council annual reports
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2023
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2022 (PDF, 451KB)
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2021 (PDF, 313KB)
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2020 (PDF, 299KB)
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2019 (PDF, 214KB)
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2016-2018 (PDF, 272KB)
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2015 (PDF, 172KB)
Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga Annual Report 2014 (PDF, 173KB)
Te Pae Whakawairua
Te Pae Whakawairua is Archives’ Māori consultative group, appointed by the Chief Archivist. The group’s focus is on the medium to long-term direction of Archives New Zealand. It provides independent advice and perspective to the Chief Archivist on:
the aspirations of Māori, and how Archives can contribute to achieving these within its frameworks
services that are relevant and appropriate to Māori
communication to Māori about Archives’ services
matters of concern or other issues.
Contact us
To contact the Archives Council, or to request earlier Archives Council reports, email OCA@dia.govt.nz