Hello everyone,

This is the final President’s Column I will write for you as, due to a change in my personal circumstances, I have advised the Executive Committee of the Friends of Te Papa of my resignation from the role of President effective from 10 March 2025.

I have greatly enjoyed my period as President, working with my dedicated committee and administration colleagues in delivering the Friends’ programme of events and communication to you, our members. Aided by the generous and greatly appreciated inputs from the many volunteers who assist us in our endeavours I think that we have, collectively, continued to successfully achieve our constitutional objectives of advocating, supporting and promoting the interests, objects and activities of Te Papa.

Over my period as President we have seen a number of event highlights, including large-scale exhibitions such as The Dinosaurs of Patagonia and Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery. We have run a variety of well-attended and expertly led domestic and overseas guided tours. We have presented many “in-house” style events highlighting activities and technical detail across a broad spectrum of museum activity, presented by museum curators and other specialists. It has been an amazing experience to learn so much from these experts as they have recounted their adventures or educated us on many of the intricate details and areas of interest of their work and its importance to New Zealand.

The Friends will continue in the future to work closely with Te Papa management and staff, and the Te Papa foundation, to bring similar and new experiences and learning opportunities to you, our members.

From 10 March 2025 my role as President will be assumed by our current Vice President Mazz Scannell, who has a strong background, broad understanding and considerable experience in leadership of groups such as the Friends. Mazz is a passionate advocate for Te Papa and the continued delivery of value to our members and to the museum.

You will be in good hands with Mazz and her committee.

Manaakitia te popoporoaki me te Atua.