The Chief Archivist 

The Chief Archivist holds a statutory role under the Public Records Act, and works to ensure the integrity of the record of government.  The Chief Archivist:  

• sets records and information management standards that public agencies must follow 

• reports to Parliament on the quality of information management and compliance with the Public Records Act across the state sector 

• acts independently in the disposal of public records 

• is the General Manager of Archives New Zealand. 

Acting Chief Archivist

Honiana Love, Chief Executive of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, will act as Chief Archivist from Monday 11 April 2022, while Stephen Clarke is on medical leave.

Taranaki te mounga 

Raukawakawa te moana 

Ko Te Ātiawa, ko Taranaki Iwi, ko Ngāti Ruanui, ko Ngā Ruahinerangi ngā iwi 

No reira, e te iti, e te rahi, te katoa, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. 

Before joining Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision as Pou Ārahi (Director), and then Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive), Honiana Love was Senior Adviser Māori at Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage. She has over 25 years of archival experience – including working as an archivist at Archives New Zealand and Te Reo o Taranaki, and as a librarian. 

Visit Ngā Taonga to learn more about Honiana

Stephen Clarke 

Born in Scotland, Stephen Clarke is a former engineer who took up a career in archives and records management in the 1990s. 

After gaining a degree in history and social anthropology, and professional experience in local authority archives and university libraries, Stephen completed an Archives Administration and Records Management post-graduate professional qualification in the UK, specialising in medieval charters. 

In 2006 Stephen left the National Museum of Wales to join Archives New Zealand, beginning his career in the public service of Aotearoa. Stephen brings twenty years’ experience leading teams to deliver digital services in the public sector, in agencies including the Office of the Auditor General, Inland Revenue, the Department of Internal Affairs, Office of the Ombudsman, Te Puni Kōkiri and Transpower. His most recent role has been as the Chief Data Officer for Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. 

Stephen is known internationally as a thought-leader and standards expert. He has developed standards for records management and digitisation, as well as the International Council on Archives: Principles and functional requirements for records in electronic office environments standard. As a former anthropologist and a technical practitioner, Stephen understands that successful societal outcomes come from bringing cultural and technical together to create human-centred services that work for people, delivered by technology. 

When not at work, Stephen likes to spend time with his two daughters, reading sci-fi and philosophy, watching Scottish football and collecting 1970/80s punk records. 

Previous Chief Archivists

• 1957-62: Secretary of Internal Affairs exercised Chief Archivist powers

• 1962: Michael Standish

• 1963-72: John Pascoe

• 1972-82: Judith S. Hornabrook

• 1982-91: Ray Grover

• 1991-98: Kathryn Patterson

• 1998-2000: Chris Hurley (Acting Chief Archivist)

• 2000-01: Lyn Provost (Acting Chief Archivist)

• 2001-09: Dianne Macaskill

• 2009-11: Greg Goulding (Acting Chief Archivist)

• 2011-14: Greg Goulding (Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)

• 2014-17: Marilyn Little (Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)

• 2017–2018: Richard Foy (Acting Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)

• 2018–2020: Richard Foy (Chief Archivist and General Manager Archives New Zealand)

The Archives New Zealand Leadership Team

Three Regional Archivists, five Directors and the Chief Archivist make up the Archives New Zealand Leadership Team.

Catherine Smith – Regional Archivist, Dunedin 

Joanna Condon – Regional Archivist, Christchurch 

Taila Roth – Regional Archivist, Auckland 

Anahera Morehu – Kaihautū Rātonga Māori (Director, Services for Māori)  

Angela Beaumont – Director, Digital Delivery 

Louise Harris – Director, Strategy 

Polly Martin – Director, Holdings and Discovery 

Antony Moss – Director, Government Recordkeeping

Denise Williams – Collaboration Director, Tāhuhu. 

Minister responsible 

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Jan Tinetti, is responsible for Archives New Zealand. 

Learn more about Jan Tinetti – beehive.govt.nz 

The Archives Council 

Te Rua Wānanga, the Archives Council, provides independent advice to the minister responsible for Archives New Zealand on recordkeeping and archives matters – including  those for which tikanga Māori is relevant. 

Archives Council members 

Current Archives Council members are: 

• Liz Sinclair (Chair) 

• Peter Adds (Deputy Chair) 

• Dougal McKechnie 

• Karaitiana Taiuru 

• Nina Finigan 

• Gareth Winter 

• Aroha Chamberlain. 

How members are appointed

Council members are appointed by the Minister responsible for Archives, who consults with the Minister for Māori Development and the Chief Archivist.

How the Council reports

The Council reports to the Minister responsible for Archives. The Minister reports to the House of Representatives.

Archives Council Charter 

The Charter lays out the functions of the Archives Council under the PRA, how it is governed and how it reports to the minister. 

Read the Archives Council Charter (PDF 182KB)

Contact us for an accessible version of this document

Archives Council annual reports 

Contact us for earlier Archives Council reports

Te Pae Whakawairua 

Te Pae Whakawairua is Archives’ Māori consultative group, appointed by the Chief Archivist. The group’s focus is on the medium to long-term direction of Archives New Zealand. It provides independent advice and perspective to the Chief Archivist on:  

• the aspirations of Māori, and how Archives can contribute to achieving these within its frameworks 

• services that are relevant and appropriate to Māori 

• communication to Māori about Archives’ services 

• matters of concern or other issues.