National award for Kauri Museum

RECOGNITION: Kauri Museum CEO Bet Nelley at the museum awards.

The Kauri Museum at Matakohe has achieved national recognition at the recent New Zealand Museum Awards in Hamilton.

The Project Achievement Award (Innovation/Environment/Technology) was reward for the museum’s efforts in achieving zero carbon certification – the first museum in the world to do so.

With their project, Achieving CarboNZero Certification, the Kauri Museum has taken sustainability very seriously, said awards judges.

Not only saving money by reducing their energy use, the museum is also off-setting its carbon emission by planting trees – kauri trees of course. 

The commitment to sustainability has seen them the first museum carbon-neutral certification in the world through the CarboNZero programme.  

Along with the recognition came a $2000 sponsored prize from National Services Te Paerangi Te Papa. 

“We could not have achieved this certification without the help of sponsorship from Westpac and I would like to acknowledge their commitment to sustainability and their help with this project,” said Kauri museum CEO Bet Nelley. 

“This has been an exciting project that we really are only beginning. With direction from Dr Jonathan Palmer,  a scientist in residence at the time, we were able to see  an opportunity to take our museum further forward.” 

“Our costs have reduced and the interest from educators is beginning to come to fruition. To receive recognition from the museum community of New Zealand is amazing.”

Nelley says that in her opinion there is no longer a debate about sustainability – we all need reduced costs and efficient use of resources by being leaner and meaner.

“With so many amazing entries, the judges had to reject some great projects to select only five winners from the 16 category finalists,” says Phillipa Tocker, Executive Director of Museums Aotearoa. “We are very proud to be able to share their success, and promote the hard work and outstanding achievements of museums around the country.”