ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand aims to assist potential and current heritage professionals to select the most appropriate heritage education and training.
In 1993, the ICOMOS General Assembly adopted guidelines to promote the establishment of standards for education and training in the conservation of monuments, groups of buildings and sites, including historic buildings, historic areas and towns, archaeological sites, and their contents, as well as historic and cultural landscapes.
Opportunities for professional heritage and trades education and training in New Zealand remain limited and there is still a need to look towards Australia and overseas programmes. Specialists trades depend on consistent work and mentoring which have yet to get a strong base in New Zealand. There continues to be a need for professional courses in New Zealand and continuing professional development for those already involved in cultural heritage conservation in New Zealand.
Degree/diploma education and training courses
There are few opportunities otherwise to undertake a comprehensive study of cultural heritage conservation in New Zealand leading to a formal qualification. There are however a substantial number of education and training programmes, including 1-2 year academic courses available outside of New Zealand, leading to formal heritage qualifications. There are elective courses at a number of universities and polytechnics. There are also occasional study programmes or short courses in New Zealand which can be enriching (but often do not culminate in a formal qualification) and annual conferences with papers.
Most postgraduate programmes require a relevant graduate qualification and all require full or part-time attendance at the providing institution. A number of providers offer postgraduate qualifications through distance learning. This allows the possibility of combining a formal education with ‘on the job’ practical training in the workplace.
ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand is preparing an updated list of available degree and diploma courses in cultural heritage conservation to guide potential and current heritage practitioners towards programmes that it considers most appropriate to the New Zealand heritage context.
Some ICOMOS New Zealand members have direct experience of courses in New Zealand and overseas and are willing to share their experiences. Please email us via our contact page if you wish to be put in contact.
Professional development
Cultural heritage practitioners who have undertaken overseas education and training should endeavour to augment their education with knowledge of the particular New Zealand context on subjects including:
- New Zealand’s cultural context and histories
- The historical development and range of cultural heritage monuments, buildings and sites, groups and cultural landscapes in New Zealand
- Legislative, statutory and policy context for cultural heritage and planning in New Zealand
- Building materials, traditions & technologies and the effects of climatic conditions and mechanisms of decay
- New Zealand cultural heritage conservation and management practice and international conservation as it relates to the New Zealand heritage context
- Social and community expectations surrounding cultural heritage conservation and management
- ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand Charter.
Given the continuous development of best practice cultural heritage conservation and management, all practitioners need to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date. Attending short courses, conferences and training workshops are useful forms of professional development.
Short courses, workshops and conferences can offer, depending on their purpose and length, a broad introduction to cultural heritage conservation or in-depth training in specific topics. Courses and conferences range from ½ day workshops, 1-8 week courses to research fellowships, and cover a broad range of heritage-related topics. There are a number that are held from time to time in New Zealand, but with the exception of the ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand AGM (usually held end of October/beginning of November) they are not held on a regular timetable or basis.
A sound theoretical background leading to a formal qualification, practical experience and specific short courses will provide the best on-going training and continuing professional development for cultural heritage practitioners.
For further information or to provide details of new courses, please contact us.
A number of scholarships are available for appropriate heritage programmes and for travel expenses, including ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand travel and education funds.
The future
ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand considers that any future New Zealand cultural heritage education/training programmes should:
- Be consistent with the ICOMOS Guidelines for Education and Training in the Conservation of Monuments, Ensembles and Sites
- Be consistent with the Heritage Chairs and Officials of Australia and New Zealand (HCOANZ) heritage training and education policy
- Have the potential to provide a profound understanding of conservation practice
- Provide a sound working knowledge of the Athens Charter and other ICOMOS Charters, including the ICOMOS New Zealand Charter 2010
- Provide comprehensive understanding of the history and theory of conservation
- Give a working knowledge of building technologies and processes of decay
- Promote on-going contacts beyond the course for peer support.
ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand would welcome discussions with any providers wishing to develop education or training programmes that meet the above criteria. Please email us via our contact page.