Kete West Coast Custodianship Transition

Buller District Libraries (BDL) is underway with a transfer of the Kete West Coast digital archive custodianship to The Museum of Kawatiri Trust.

The Kete West Coast digital information project was created in 2012 by the National Library to preserve the memories and stories of West Coast people. West Coasters were invited to add their stories, images, videos and audios to the Kete project.

After the National Library decommissioned the original website in 2022, the archived records which included 3000 images and documents, were migrated to BDL with support from Westland and Grey District Libraries.

A New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme fund has supported the transfer and ongoing management of the collection over the past five years, at no cost to ratepayers, but with the recent end of this funding, a long-term custodian was required to continue the preservation of this valuable community heritage resource.

Buller District Council Group Manager Community Services Manager Krissy Trigg says BDL are delighted that the Museum of Kawatiri Trust has formally accepted responsibility for the collection.

“We’re very pleased the Trust are taking on the ongoing management of the collection and that it will continue to be cared for by an organisation dedicated to preserving West Coast heritage,”

“The Kete West Coast collection plays an important role in preserving the photographs, stories and history of our region and we would like to thank our West Coast district library partners for their continued support of Kete West Coast.”

BDL will continue to work closely with the Trust to ensure a smooth transition of the collection and the Kete West Coast website will continue to operate on the e-hive platform: https://ehive.com/collections/202148/kete-west-coast.

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For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz 

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.