Former director made fellow of museum
Stuart Park, who has lived in Kerikeri since 1999, was last week named a Fellow of Auckland War Memorial Museum
He was one of four “outstanding individuals” who received medals in recognition of the major contributions they had made to the museum and the cultural sector in general.
Mr Park was appointed director of Auckland Museum in 1979, after 11 years as Otago Museum’s anthropologist. During his 14 years there he undertook a number of initiatives in terms of public exhibitions, including international displays, while the volunteer guides were recruited, and a newsletter for institute and museum members was produced.
Under his directorship improvements were begun in collection storage and care, including the creation of the museum’s conservation facility, and a number of staff appointments were made to strengthen scientific and museological work. The first steps were taken into the digital world, beginning in collection registration, and a programme of major building strengthening, maintenance and refurbishment was initiated.
He also undertook policy development for the Museum Council, and was involved in the 1980 amendment to the Museum Act, and in the preparations for the current Auckland Museum Act 1996.
In 1993 Mr Park joined the exhibition development team for what became Te Papa, in Wellington, and was appointed director museum resources when it opened in 1998. The following year he moved to Kerikeri, to establish the Northland office of Heritage New Zealand, where he worked with built heritage and archaeological sites, offering advice and support to local authorities and public and private owners of heritage places.
Mr Park retired in 2012 but continues to actively pursues interests in Northland history, New Zealand glass history and family history.