Provenance Research Technician

Museums Aotearoa; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 62,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free wellbeing programme

Boost app membership

Myeveryday wellbeing

Discounted onsite parking

Rainbow tick accreditation

Job summary

Auckland War Memorial Museum is undertaking a 24-month Provenance Research Establishment Project focused on taonga Māori. The Provenance Research Technician will support researching, documenting and communicating provenance, working with curators and collection managers to compile material for analysis.

The role includes digitisation support and ensuring findings are recorded in the collection management system, with a focus on accuracy and collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in a relevant field, or 1–3 years’ museum experience.
• Sound research and reference skills, with experience locating and reviewing material.
• Experience using collection management systems; Vernon CMS desirable.
• Experience in safe handling and storage of archival material.
• Strong attention to detail and effective time management.
• Awareness of tikanga Māori and taonga Māori histories; interest in bicultural contexts.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and their museum implications.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexible work arrangements; availability to purchase additional annual leave.

Responsibilities

• Identify, retrieve and review archival and documentary sources in the Museum's collections.
• Compile research material for analysis and documentation in the collection system.
• Support digitisation of relevant sources and ensure accurate records are kept.
• Work alongside curators, collection managers and other subject specialists.

Job description

Auckland War Memorial Museum: Connecting through sharing stories of people, lands and seas

Auckland Museum is a much-loved culture and heritage organisation at the heart of Auckland's identity, committed to outstanding management of its world-class collections,developing and sharing engaging content through its galleries, exhibition, events, educational programmes and the permanent and volunteer staff who tell the Museum's stories. We are Auckland's home of commemoration as well as the country’s oldest research institution and a major tourist destination.

Job Description

Mō te tūranga | About the role

The Museum is undertaking a new 24-month Provenance Research Establishment Project focused on taonga Māori. The project aims to establish a consistent approach to researching, documenting and communicating provenance, supporting the Museum's responsibilities to taonga and their communities.

The Provenance Research Technician will provide dedicated research and documentation support, working alongside curators, collection managers and other subject specialists. The project role will focus on identifying, retrieving and reviewing archival and documentary sources, primarily within the Museum's collections, and compiling research material for further analysis. The technician will also support the digitisation of relevant sources and ensure research findings are accurately and consistently recorded in the Museum's collection management system.

Desired Skills and Experience

To be successful in this fixed term role, you will offer:

• A tertiary qualification in a relevant field, or 1–3 years’ museum experience in a similar role.
• Sound research and reference skills, with experience locating, reviewing and organising archival, documentary or pictorial material.
• Experience using collection management systems or other databases in a museum context. Knowledge of Vernon CMS is highly desirable.
• Experience in the safe handling and storage of archival, documentary or museum collection material.
• Strong attention to detail and effective time management skills.
• Awareness of tikanga Māori and an interest in the histories and contexts of taonga Māori, with a commitment to developing cultural capability.
• An understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and their implications for the work of the Museum.
• The ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexible work arrangements to enhance your work and home life
• Availability to purchase additional annual leave
• An award-winning wellbeing programme including free membership with Boost app and Myeveryday wellbeing
• An active social club which is part of the fabric of Museum life
• Free museum membership and other staff discounts
• Discounted onsite parking
• Accredited by Rainbow tick

Check out ourbenefitspage to find out more about why we love working here.

Closing Date: Sunday, 15 November 2026

You must be currently eligible to work in New Zealand to be considered for this 2-year fixed term position. Starting salary guide: $62,000 - $65,000 per annum dependant on relevant experience.

Auckland Museum offers a rich and fulfilling work life where we embrace diversity and nurture our bicultural capability as demonstrated in our Teu le Vā and He Korahi Māori strategies. We also offer a range of great benefits such as flexible work and leave and an award-winning wellbeing programme.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to be part of a fabulous New Zealand organisation committed to telling our national and Auckland stories, reflecting our unique place in the South Pacific.