Change at museum
13 June 2016
Responsibility for operating the Cambridge museum is to be transferred from the Waipa District Council to the Cambridge Historical Society.
While the Society has always owned the historical collection, the museum itself has been run and staffed by Waipa District Council since 2008, funded by ratepayers. That will change from July 1 this year when the Society will take over day-to-day operations.
Waipa District Council's service delivery manager Barry Bergin said the Council would continue to support the operation of the Cambridge museum through an annual grant. The amount provided would need to be approved by Council, based on a business case from the Society.
While we have yet to nail down the details, the Council would want a very transparent agreement that would clearly detail what the council and community would receive for the money provided by ratepayers, Bergin said.
We're very positive about the move. The Society is full of passionate people and they have outlined some good ideas to continue conserving and managing their collection to showcase the history of Cambridge.
Bergin said the museum would continue to operate from Cambridge's historic court house building in Victoria Street with council staff continuing to manage and maintain the Council-owned land and building. While the council's specialist museum staff would be available for advice, responsibility for staffing at the Cambridge museum would sit with the Society.
Waipa District Council would continue to manage and staff the Te Awamutu museum, he said.
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