Heidi and Andrew developed a way of working with small, mostly volunteer-run organisations, to develop their digital capability.

The project was a New Zealand first, and possibly a global first, and a huge success, applying a methodology that needs to be shared. It could be adapted and applied to any project hoping to help smaller GLAMIR orgs.

The approach was non-colonial: everything was done with them, not to them.

Small organisations know digitisation will help them run better exhibitions, elevate their education programs, and give their communities, which they are tightly connected to, an unprecedented level of access. But starting digitisation requires a specialist level of knowledge and equipment, and it can be very disruptive initially.

The NZMM Digi Hub team of 4 embedded in each org for up to 3 months, learned and listened to what was needed, supplied equipment, developed tailored solutions to fit, and ensured everyone was involved in the process.

Warkworth and Districts Museum, Charlotte Museum and Howick Historical Village now have impressive and sustainable digital capabilities, beyond what some larger orgs are capable of, and a long list of other orgs in Auckland all gained knowledge or skills directly and indirectly from the project.

Andrew Hales, New Zealand Maritime Museum, Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa: Photography and Digital Lead, qualified forklift operator, truck driver and parttime mechanic, with management and logistics/operations experience in the private sector. Andrew has worked in museums for ten years, where he has photographed tens of thousands of objects and developed processes and systems for dozens of people to photograph many thousands more. He’s photographed everything from the 800m2 sails from KZ1 to Sir Ed Hillary’s KBE medal. A regular at NDF, he believes in a digital future and sharing knowledge.

Heidi Schulmpf, New Zealand Maritime Museum, Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa: Project lead, biologist, data junkie, understands Vernon CMS, collector of dead things and has an amazing ability to get the best out of people. Heidi has worked with collections for over 25 years, including GNS Science, Canterbury and Auckland Museums. She ran the Natural Sciences cataloguing project team at Auckland Museum, preparing specimens for digitisation. Heidi has collected a desiccated mouse found in the sails from KZ1 and knows how to manage bulk data via XML or CSV. She believes in making collections findable and searchable, accessible (where appropriate) and that if you care about culture and heritage, you care about ALL culture and heritage, no matter its repository. We all have a responsibility to help each other, especially those less well-resourced, as it's beneficial for the whole industry.