by CEO of Museums Aotearoa, Jaenine Parkinson
This set reflects the experiences and values that have shaped my career in arts, culture and heritage, and that continue to guide how I see the role of museums today. Coming from an art gallery background and trained in art history, I’ve spent nearly two decades looking, thinking and working across organisations throughout Aotearoa, large and small.
There have been many moments throughout my career where I have seen how museums help shape values, deepen understanding, and connect generations. Together, these experiences highlight why museums and galleries matter: as places of storytelling, responsibility, and connection, linking past, present, and future.
I come from an art gallery background and hold a master’s degree in art history. My career has been shaped by a deep commitment to our arts, culture, and heritage, and I reflect here on why this sector matters so profoundly to me, and why I’m excited to step into my new role as Chief Executive of Museums Aotearoa.
One defining experience was spending six weeks at the Venice Biennale presenting Lisa Reihana’s exhibition for the New Zealand Pavilion. Being there with work grounded in whakapapa, history, and contemporary Indigenous storytelling was a powerful reminder of how confidently Aotearoa holds its place on the international stage. Watching audiences from around the world engage with the exhibition reinforced my belief in the power of art, taonga, museums and galleries to challenge narratives, connect cultures, and share stories that matter.
I also deeply valued my time as Director of The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, particularly working with an emerging generation of curators activating collections through storytelling—whether highlighting the lives of New Zealand authors, like Witi Ihimira and his generation, or uncovering the rich social and historical contexts embedded in the background of portraits, such as the densely packed portrait of Carmen Rupe.
Another experience is quieter, but no less meaningful. Standing in Te Papa with my five-year-old son, looking at moa bones, I found myself talking with him about kaitiakitanga—about care, responsibility, and the obligations we inherit alongside taonga. Moments like this are where museums do some of their most important work: deepening understanding, shaping values, and connecting past, present, and future.
