Heritage Studios

09/07/2026

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶 𝗸𝗶𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝘄𝗮 𝗿𝗮̄!

As the Matariki cluster rises in our winter skies, we find ourselves looking up — and looking back.

These slides — digitised for ’s Matariki at the Museum Trilogy III - Touring show — capture constellations photographed by the curious Charles Michie, long before we held them in our hands.

“These three were selected from our Charles Michie collection of nearly 300 slides because they represent Matariki — or as Charles knew it, ‘Pleiades’ — alongside Puanga, a marker for Northern tribes who cannot see Matariki. Charles knew Puanga as Rigel, within the Orion constellation. We’ve digitised them to travel with our Matariki at the Museum Trilogy III - Touring show, as the originals are too fragile to move. The replicas are every bit as beautiful as the real deal — thank you, HS!”
— Alyce Charlesworth, Curator, Whangārei Museum

Matariki asks us to pause — to honour those no longer with us, and to carry their knowledge forward. We feel that same pull in our own work: the quiet privilege of holding what others entrust to us, and the responsibility of carrying it well.

You can see these slides on tour with — go and look up.

Ngā mihi o te tau hou Māori — wishing you a Matariki of reflection, remembrance, and renewal.

Charles Michie Lantern Slides (Pleiades, Orion, Constellations)
Early 20th century, glass slides
Donated by Charles Michie
Whangārei Museum Collection: 1986.173.176 / 1986.173.249 / 1986.173.260

22/05/2026

Seeing art from a collection we digitised reaching new audiences like this – there's nothing quite like it! Congratulations on the launch of 'Rendered' He Waka Tuia

We’re excited to share that our offsite exhibition 'Rendered' is currently lighting up the screens at Invercargill Central!

This project has been made possible through the work of our Outreach Curator, helping bring contemporary art into everyday public spaces and making our collection more accessible to the wider community.

A huge thank you also to Heritage Studios for the digitisation of works from the Invercargill Public Art Gallery collection, allowing these pieces to be experienced in a new digital format beyond the gallery walls.

Next time you’re at Invercargill Central, take a moment to stop and experience 'Rendered'.

24/04/2026

ANZAC Day. A time for reflection and pause.

Lest we forget.

Image: Clyde War Memorial, ANZAC Day 2025.

01/04/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝘆. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁.

Having a vision for your collection is the beginning. But knowing where to start is often where the real conversation begins.

Finding the right starting point means understanding the full ecosystem around your collection. How it's managed, how it's stored, what systems you have in place, and what else you're hoping to achieve. Because the most logical place to begin only becomes clear once you understand the bigger picture.

That conversation looks different every time. For some institutions it leads us to their catalogue and accession registers – building a digital foundation before objects are photographed. For others it uncovers at-risk material that needs to be prioritised. Alternatively, it’s an opportunity to take stock and get another perspective on where might be best to begin.

This is why we encourage institutions to come to us before they have all the answers. You don't need a fully formed plan to start the conversation. In fact, the earlier we talk, the better placed we are to help you get the most out of your project.

Start the conversation early. You might be surprised where it leads. [email protected]

25/03/2026

Exceptional results don't happen by accident.

That’s why every Heritage Studios workflow is designed to produce exceptional outcomes that exceed expectations and serve your needs now and into the future.

Grounded in thoughtful preparation, reflective practice and an unwavering commitment to collection care, we capture not only the physical form but the very essence.

By weaving together your deep knowledge of your collections with our specialist skills and advanced technology, we create exceptional digital treasures that serve your community while honouring the stories and heritage they contain.

Ready to see what thoughtful digitisation can achieve for your collection? Get in touch today [email protected]

Image: Capture of The New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa John Spencer Collection. Explore the collection online at https://collection.maritimemuseum.co.nz/highlights/johnspencer/objects

23/03/2026

Don’t miss out on tomorrow’s special kōrero celebrating the opening of Te Kahu – a landmark new home for Aotearoa’s documentary heritage. Check out the details below:

📣 We’re excited to bring people together this Wednesday for a special international panel discussion that also celebrates the official opening of Te Kahu, our new heritage campus.

Te Kahu unites Aotearoa New Zealand’s documentary heritage in one modern, purpose-built place — bringing together:

Te Rua – the new Archives building
Te Puna – the National Library building
Te Hono – the bridge that physically and symbolically connects them

As part of this occasion, our panel kōrero will reflect on what Te Kahu represents: a new chapter in how we care for, protect, and provide access to the stories, knowledge, and taonga held in our collections — now and for generations to come.

The panel will feature Chief Archivist Poumanaaki Anahera Morehu alongside four international leaders in the library and archives sector and will be facilitated by National Librarian Te Pouhuaki Rachel Esson.

Join us to be part of the conversation.

Livestream the event: https://youtube.com/live/E97qTb-xXsg?feature=share

See event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1642410440107667

Archives New Zealand

19/03/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀.

Every digitisation journey starts somewhere. In our experience, the ones that are both successful and transformative start with a conversation.

That conversation looks different every time. Because every institution is different – different collections, different communities, different challenges, different goals. But our starting point is always the same: listening first, understanding your context deeply, and only then helping you find the path that makes the most sense for you.

Whatever it leads to, whether that's a full partnership, a training programme, or simply a clearer sense of direction, that conversation is always the most valuable investment you can make in your collection's future.

Every great digitisation journey begins with a conversation. Let's start yours today. [email protected]

17/03/2026

You can almost smell the earthy warmth of cattle on golden sun-kissed paddocks, can't you? Feel the refreshing coastal breeze coming across those hills?

That's the power of a photograph – even decades later, it can transport you back. To the crunch of gravel and grass underfoot, the beating heat of the sun, that expansive impossibly blue sky, the particular quiet of being somewhere remote and beautiful.

Your slides and prints hold more than images. They hold the texture of your life, the atmosphere of moments you thought you'd forgotten.

Let Family Memories by Heritage Studios help you step back into those moments – transforming them not just as pictures, but as portals to your past, ready to share with the people you love.

Ready to take that journey? Email [email protected] for your information pack.

09/03/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀.

At its heart, every public heritage collection is an act of community trust. At Heritage Studios, we take that seriously. This is why one of the first questions we ask every new client is about their institution’s relationship with mana whenua and their wider local community.

Part of our process is ensuring that the people connected to a collection feel confident in how we operate. That they know their taonga is being handled with the same reverence they would bring to it themselves. This means embracing tikanga wholeheartedly, and always following the lead of the communities connected to the collection.

Genuine investment in these relationships doesn't just make a project more respectful – it makes it more meaningful. For the institution, for the communities connected to the collection, and for the taonga themselves. It's about genuinely caring – and that changes everything.

Consider the relationships woven through your collection. Digitisation done with genuine care for those relationships doesn't just preserve a collection. It strengthens the bonds between your communities and their heritage. If that's the kind of digitisation partnership you're looking for, let's talk [email protected]