As you will be aware, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has announced plans to disestablish the majority of its historian positions and eliminate the digital production roles essential for maintaining platforms such as Te Ara and NZHistory.net. This restructuring represents a fundamental shift towards a policy-only model that would effectively end decades of vital public history work. These proposed cuts constitute a serious threat to New Zealand’s capacity for historical research, education, and public engagement at a time when such work is more crucial than ever.

There are a few tangible things you can do to oppose these cuts:

• The PSA is organising a protest outside the Ministry of Culture and Heritage building (131-135 Lambton Quay) at 8.30am on Tuesday 17 June. It’d be great to see a good turnout from the historical community.
• Write a statement in support of MCH’s historical work to be included in the PSA’s decision and send it to Grace Miller (contact person at the PSA for the historical community on this matter) at grace.millar@psa.org.nz. This decision will not go out for public consultation, but as jobs are being disestablished workers have to be consulted. If you send a statement by 30 June Grace will make sure it’s part of the PSA submission.
• Write to Paul Goldsmith, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage P.Goldsmith@ministers.govt.nz
• Write to Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, Secretary for Culture and Heritage and Chief Executive (via his Executive Assistant: Bridie.Cooper@mch.govt.nz)
• Write to Erica Stanford, Minister of Education, E.Stanford@ministers.govt.nz
• Write to your electorate MP

Feel free to use the attached statement to inform your own correspondence:

• Statement from PHANZA, NZHA, and NZHTA regarding proposed staffing cuts at MCH, 16 June 2025

Please forward this as widely as possible around historical networks.