Kia Rite
Kia Rite, which loosely translates as ‘get ready’, is the Tāhuhu workstream focusing on ensuring the holdings and collections of Archives NZ, National Library and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision are ready for eventual relocation into new purpose-built facilities. The new facilities are the new Archives building (Heke Rua Archives) in Aitkin Street, Wellington, and the Regional Shared Repository in Taitoko Levin.
This work involves: labelling, barcoding, reboxing into secure packaging where required and ensuring the accuracy of descriptive and location data for every single box. For Archives NZ holdings alone, this is a colossal 380,000 boxes or 80km of linear shelf space.
Kia Rite work began in 2019 by focusing on the Archives NZ holdings. The aim is for all holdings to meet these four minimum relocation standards:
The record has a valid archival reference
The record is packaged and labelled appropriately for relocation
The container is described in Collections search
The container has accurate location data in our online system Arena
Work is also underway to begin preparing the National Library and Ngā Taonga collections for the move to the Regional Shared Repository in Taitoko Levin.
Indicative timeline
First phase of surveying Archives NZ holdings completed – mid 2021
Box making solution procured – end 2021
Final surveying and location audit completed – late 2024
All holdings prepared for relocation – mid 2025
Project team
For Archives NZ holdings:
Rebecca Nuttall, Team Leader
Wikitoria Rakete, Archivist
Alice McGechie, Archives Support Assistant
Andrew Wright, Archives Support Assistant
Dion Rogers, Archives Support Assistant
For National Library collections:
Amanda Sykes, Tāhuhu Project Registrar
For Ngā Taonga Sound & Visions collections:
Claire Hall