New path for museum CEO

 

Though it might be said Betty Nelley will soon be closing her office door for the last time, it’s a door that has rarely been closed in her eight years as CEO of the Matakohe Kauri Museum, a position from which she has just retired. 

Her enthusiasm for Northland and its history carried her into the position and her relationship with and respect for her staff and many associates within the industry has meant that her door was “always open for discussions and ideas on new and innovative ideas that promoted Northland, Kauri and the museum.”

The tributes flowed from the large crowd who gathered to farewell Betty at the Museum last Thursday. It included her loyal staff members, locals related to the pioneers featured within, local friends who simply appreciated the work Betty had put in, dignitaries from Councils near and far, others representing Museums Aotearoa and tourism representatives, all of whom have seen the museum grow to world status.

“We work together on so many aspects of the museum,” says Betty, “but we need to, so as to understand the many parts to the displays and exhibitions and the marketing and promotion.” 

These many parts are related by products, to history and to the local community, all of which are knitted together to bring the museum to life. Her enthusiasm endorses her edict that ‘a museum is not a graveyard’ and she has striven, and succeeded, in presenting the Kauri Museum as a living entity.

Multiple awards from tourism companies and world-wide recognition have proved this to be a particularly successful recipe which draws over 90,000 visitors through its doors annually. Betty especially enjoys the overseas visitors who sometimes have incredible knowledge of the Kauri and are able to leave behind interesting things to add rather than simply visit and take souvenirs away.

With a new computer system, the cataloguing of every article in the museum became a major project for Betty and her staff and required a lot of research to, firstly,obtain historical information and secondly to confirm the authenticity of the information or the artifacts. 

“But so very interesting are the stories that come with the artifacts,” she adds, “especially when things come to light we never knew about and from people in far flung parts of the country who are happy to donate special pieces to the museum. I don’t think my interest will ever wane in the museum but I’m happy to stand aside and see where the future takes it.” 

Betty’s individual efforts have also been recognised with an achievement award presented by then Prime Minister Helen Clark, and she has also published three books – all about Kauri, a subject that is sure to remain a priority whatever road she now chooses to take. 

By Rob Pooley

APPRECIATED: From left, Kauri museum board chairman Peter King, Colleen Glass who spoke on behalf of the staff, and  Betty Nelley.

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