Council to take over museum management as Marlborough Heritage Trust winds up

MATT BROWN

Rising costs and static funding has forced the Marlborough Heritage Trust to throw in the towel.

The Trust will be wound up at the end of March, with Marlborough District Council (MDC) taking over operation of the Marlborough Museum and Edwin Fox Maritime Museum.

The move was revealed after council advertised manager positions for the two museums on job websites.

Trust spokesperson Cathie Bell says it will be sad to see the trust go, but there will be benefits from the council taking over operations.

“Staff will become council employees the way that library staff are, and so will be paid market rates which will be good. Our staff do an excellent job for the region,” she says.

“Marlborough is rich in heritage and this move will give the museum and the Edwin Fox financial stability.” ing structures and recruiting associated staff.

Cathie says due to Covid and weather events, many museums across the country are struggling.

Marlborough Heritage Trust received $170,000 of extra funding to keep the trust operating until a council review of the trust and its operations were complete, Local Democracy Reporter Maia Hart reported in March last year.

Cathie says winding up the trust is the result of the council review.

Several heritage buildings need extensive repair or renovation and insurance costs have skyrocketed.

“We’ve all worked really hard to live within our means,” she says.

“Our grant doesn’t go up, but all our costs do.

“It’s been really tough.” Council’s manager, economic, community and support services Dean Heiford says the district’s heritage assets – particularly the Edwin Fox – are significant visitor attractions.

“Council will be able to modernise the museums’ structures and we aim to ensure they operate as well as possible,” he said.

Cathie says while it’s never great to have to wind things up, she’s confident council will do a good job. “Council will give it that long-term financial stability and focus.

“I’m confident council will do a good job – they do with the library. And I think wages will be able to go up for the staff.

“All our staff have made really massive contributions to the district.”

He says managers are being employed first and would then have a role in develop-

The changeover transition takes place from March 31 this year.

Marlborough’s Emergency Response team have headed up to the North Island to help with the cyclone relief recovery effort. The team of six were deployed on Friday, heading to Auckland for a week where they will assist with assessment and recovery. Eleven people were killed in the disaster where the number of casualties expected to rise. As of Monday morning, there are 3215 people still unaccounted for.

New hires see Urgent Care Centre return to normal hours

Five new nurses, as well as part-timers increasing their hours, has seen the Urgent Care Centre return to their normal hours, 8am to 8pm, from yesterday (Monday). The Centre reduced its hours, closing at 5pm, in September last year, citing national workforce shortages.

General manager Lawrence Laus says he is looking forward to providing the community with after-hours care again, as well as reducing the pressure on ED and GPs.

“It has been a challenging time and we have only been able to get