Te Papa's 'Mama' in shock health resignation

Museum of New Zealand chief executive Dame Cheryll Sotheran resigned yesterday, citing illness.

The 56-year-old's resignation from Te Papa took effect immediately.

As arts administrators go, Dame Cheryll was more Jackson Pollock than Frances Hodgkins. Defiant splashes of colour with a clearly defined purpose, characterised by controversial exhibits and a no-nonsense approach, marked her time as the museum's first head.

Dame Cheryll has earned the respect that comes with the success of the museum, which she defines by the massive six million visitors since it opened in Wellington in February 1998.

But she fought many battles in her five-year term - from the virgin in a condom furore in 1998 to countering repeated criticism that Te Papa is a bland, dumbed-down theme park.

She responded to calls to see more of the national collection and more space devoted to hanging art with the construction of two new galleries housing hundreds of works from the collection.

Not many would say she was popular.

Dubbed "Chernobyl" by staff, she has a reputation for a fiery temper and a hostile manner.

This reputation received much media attention, most recently with an Employment Court battle in December in which she was summonsed by former curator Jillian Lloyd, who claimed she created a "climate of fear" in the museum. Jillian Lloyd brought three claims against Te Papa, among them that she was constructively dismissed.

Te Papa was vindicated in the court's decision.

Dame Cheryll was born in Stratford to a large Catholic family and attended St Mary's College, Auckland. After graduating from secondary teachers' college in 1968 and from Auckland University with an MA in English in 1969, she undertook further studies in art history, in which she also lectured.

Her career in arts administration began in 1985 when she was appointed director of the Govett-Brewster gallery in New Plymouth, and her success there led to her appointment as director of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in 1989.

Her life as "Te Mama" began when she was made chief executive of the national museum in 1992.

She was applauded for seeing the $317 million Te Papa project through on time and under budget.

In an interview then, she said it often felt as though she had sacrificed a real life during the seven years building up to Te Papa's opening.

"The hardest time was keeping the vision alive through the hostility and negativity."

- NZPA