NZ should save all moving images

NZ should save all moving images

A world leading archiving expert, Sam Kula, addressed New Zealand archivists and broadcasters at the Sound and Light Archiving Symposium hosted by NZ On Air in Wellington today.

The former Director of the Moving Image and Sound Archives Division of the National Archives of Canada, and author of the international audiovisual archiving standard, Mr Kula advised New Zealand to save all moving images produced in the country.

Mr Kula thinks the best way to achieve this is to establish an officially recognised national archive, or network of archives, to safeguard and preserve nationally produced moving images.

“Archiving is the only way to keep a history of New Zealand’s culture and values,” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jo Tyndall.

“So we’re looking to Sam to tell us how the New Zealand broadcasting industry and archivists can work together to achieve this goal,” she said.

New Zealand, unlike some countries such as Canada, does not have a national centre for audiovisual archives. Instead, audiovisual archives are kept by a range of organisations, including the Sound Archives, the New Zealand Film Archive and TVNZ.

“One question that might be raised is whether this is still appropriate for New Zealand,” said Ms Tyndall.

Other topics for discussion include changing technology, cultural archiving, and issues of selection, media and public interest.

The Sound and Light symposium, hosted by NZ On Air, is being held at the National Film Archives in Wellington today.

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