Tāmaki Paenga Hira Acknowledges Contributions Of Outstanding Individuals

The prestigious Museum Medals were presented at a ceremony hosted at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum last night (28 June). The Museum Medals recognise excellence and innovation in the study of our cultural and natural heritage. The 2021 recipients have made major contributions to their areas of study and the creation of new knowledge, or in service to the Museum.

Winners of the Museum Medals awarded in 2021 were:

MARGUERITE DURLING - Associate Emerita of Auckland War Memorial Museum

CHANEL CLARKE - Associate Emerita of Auckland War Memorial Museum

SUE NEUREUTER - Companion of Auckland War Memorial Museum

ROD NEUREUTER - Companion of Auckland War Memorial Museum

ZOE NEUREUTER - Companion of Auckland War Memorial Museum

LEALI’IFANO DR ALBERT L REFITI - Fellow of Auckland War Memorial Museum

(*The recipient’s profiles are provided here )

“Auckland Museum is a kaitiaki for taonga and rich encyclopaedic collections. Research underpins everything we do” says Chief Executive of Auckland Museum Dr David Gaimster. “Our research strategy is built on a 165-year foundational legacy of collections, research, scholarship and innovation. Central to our research are our collections and our internationally recognised curatorial expertise. And as society seeks to understand and respond to challenges facing our world, we communicate our scientific research widely, inspiring interest in the world around us and informing decision-makers, making important contributions to society and the environment.”

“Our close partnerships with organisations such as the Auckland Museum Institute, iwi, tertiary institutions and cultural and scientific organisations across the country and overseas are equally as crucial to our research ambitions” Dr Gaimster continues.

“The Museum Medals recognise individuals who have delivered excellence in the field of scholarship, academic achievement, research, service to the museum community or the generation of new knowledge drawing from the Museum’s collections or research resources. This ensures that we continue to stretch our thinking, create new knowledge and interpret the world around us.”

Marguerite Durling was made Associate Emerita of Auckland War Memorial Museum, which recognises Museum staff or volunteers’ noteworthy achievements. Marguerite's long association with the Museum began in the 1950’s when she and her two sisters arrived with their parents from England to live in New Zealand and found themselves spending their first afternoon in Aotearoa getting to know a little of their new home and culture visiting the Museum. Throughout the years that association has remained strong, and in the early 2000’s Marguerite joined the Museum as a volunteer, an activity she continues to undertake today in addition to being the Vice-President of the Auckland Museum Institute, having been on that council for 12 years now.

Chanel Clarke was made Associate Emerita of Auckland War Memorial Museum, acknowledging her leadership of the five-year Te Awe collections readiness project. The project was a tangible reflection of He Kōrahi Māori and enriched, reorganised and improved the kaitiaki of the 10,000-plus taonga in the Museum’s care, leaving a lasting legacy enabling the Museum to better serve those Māori communities whose ancestral taonga are held in the Museums care.

Sue Neureuter, Rod Neureuter and Zoe Neureuter were made Companions of Auckland War Memorial Museum, recognising their achievements to the public service of Auckland Museum. Recognising the degradation of the land and marine environment of The Noises over time, in 1995 the Neureuter family formed the Noises Trust to help ensure their long-term protection. Latterly initiatives such as Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari and the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan have provided a voice to advocate for marine protection. Partnering with Auckland Museum amongst others, the Neureuter family aspires to enable continued research and education on and around The Noises, and for The Noises to become a model that will inspire restoration and regeneration of the surrounding marine environment, delivering holistic protection of the land and the sea.

Leali’ifano Dr Albert L Refiti was made a Fellow of the Auckland War Memorial Museum acknowledging exemplary scholastic achievement relevant to the Museum’s activities. A University of Auckland graduate of architecture, Albert was part of the design team for the Auckland Museum refurbishment in 1994/1995 and has been an expert consultant to the Museum on design for Pacific material culture since 1999.

In addition to the Museum Medals, the AMI Postgraduate Scholarship, and the Sir Hugh Kawharu Auckland Museum Scholarship were also awarded on the night. Auckland Museum Institute Postgraduate Scholarships were awarded to Emily Parr and Holly Ainea, providing support to undertake research aligned to the research priorities of Auckland Museum and its extensive collections. The Sir Hugh Kawharu Auckland Museum Scholarship was awarded to Elisha Rolleston to support and encourage Māori research and leadership, particularly in the field of cultural heritage.

The event included a special address from guest speaker Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and prize-winning scholar, specialising in history, society and politics in New Zealand and the other Pacific Islands.

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