Archives & Records Association
of New Zealand
Te Huinga Mahara
Letter to Chief Archivist
The Chief Archivist Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
2-12 Aitken Street
Thorndon Wellington 6011
8 September 2025
Tēnā koe Anahera,
I am writing on behalf of the Archives and Records Association of New Zealand (ARANZ) to raise concerns about the extended timeframes Public Offices are experiencing in the review and authorisation of new disposal authorities.
ARANZ members have reported delays of up to two years or more following submission, with little or no feedback from Archives New Zealand. In some cases, the staff who prepared the draft authority have since left the organisation, making it more difficult and costly to respond to recommendations. Meanwhile, records ready for disposal remain in limbo, increasing both risk and costs for Public Offices.
We understand that response times have lengthened in recent years. This raises concerns about whether Archives New Zealand is sufficiently resourced or whether this function is being appropriately prioritised.
Effective public sector recordkeeping is essential to accountable government and the delivery of public services. Archives New Zealand, and the Chief Archivist, play a critical role in supporting this across the sector. Any reduction in service or support undermines this role and poses a broader risk to transparency and efficiency in government.
As a civil society organisation committed to promoting sound recordkeeping, ARANZ feels compelled to raise these concerns. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss potential solutions and explore ways to improve the timeliness of disposal authority reviews.
Ngā manaakitanga
Richard Foy
ARANZ President
Letter from to the Chief Archivist and National Librarian re: change proposal
ARANZ President Richard Foy wrote an open letter on behalf of the members of ARANZ, PHANZA, and NZHA to express our deep concern regarding the change proposal announced on 21 November 2024 for Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand and Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa National Library of New Zealand
The letter and response can be found on the Submissions, Open Letters & Reports page.
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About ARANZ
ARANZ is an incorporated society, established in 1976, with the aim of promoting the understanding and importance of records and archives in New Zealand. ARANZ is administered nationally by a Council of elected members. Branches are established in Auckland, Canterbury, Central Districts, Otago/Southland, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, and Wellington.
Archivists; record managers; librarians; and other information managers; genealogists; historians; teachers; museum and art gallery curators; religious groups; professional associations; historical societies; businesses; local and central government agencies; and many other interested in the preservation and use of archives and records.
Become an ARANZ Member
There are many advantages to membership and it is a key way of engaging with the information management profession and the issues before us.
Help to preserve New Zealand’s archives and records.
Keep you informed about current archives and recordkeeping concerns and initiatives.
Give your concerns a stronger voice through the Association’s submissions and reports.
Grant you access to an informal ARANZ library.
Enable you to meet people who share your interest in archives and recordkeeping who can assist with your information needs.
Enable you to attend branch meetings and seminars.
Entitle you to receive ARANZ publications.
Give you discounted registration for ARANZ annual conferences, that provide relevant programmes of high quality.