Keep calm and carry on... Brit to run museum

Although a 'foreigner', Roy Clare says learning about our history and the Maori language are important. Photo / Steven McNicholl

The new director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum says even though he's a foreigner, he is well versed in New Zealand history and is actively learning Maori.

Roy Clare, the chief executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in England, will step into the role in August.

Mr Clare is certain he won't follow in the controversial footsteps of the museum's previous director, Canadian Vanda Vitali, who had run-ins with Sir Edmund Hillary's family and war veterans.

"I'm not too sure how it was run before, but my plan is to present objects in a spiritually respectful way and respect the country's history," he said.

He plans to increase visitor numbers to the museum by bringing the excitement back to history, focusing on the human stories that people can relate to so the institution can be more internationally appealing.

"Human stories have international appeal and it's important to focus on those to make the museum more appealing. People should be able to come in and relate to what's on show."

Mr Clare says he doesn't yet know if the museum will be restructured because he wants to meet all its staff and learn what each of them contributes.

"My habit is to learn all staff by name and I'm happy to be tested on that in a short while - I'm very much a bottom-up sort of leader."

The chairman of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Trust Board, Dr William Randall, said Mr Clare would bring a wealth of experience to the museum and an exceptional leadership style.

Mr Clare will take over from interim director Sir Don McKinnon, who stepped into the role after Ms Vitali resigned more than a year ago.

Sir Edmund's children, Peter and Sarah, had threatened legal action against the museum in a bid to regain control of their father's diaries, writings and family photographs.

A court battle between the two parties was finally averted after the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office.

In 2008, Ms Vitali upset World War II veterans when she overturned an agreement by former director Rodney Wilson to place a Bomber Command memorial in the museum.

The memorial - a 467kg sculpture - was to go in a site suggested by Dr Wilson, but the plan was scuttled after fears it would overshadow other displays.

Ms Vitali was blamed for the move and criticised by veterans who suggested the turnaround was disrespectful and the museum was reneging on an agreement.

In November 2008, the museum and veterans finally reached agreement on the unveiling and display of the memorial.

Ms Vitali also oversaw museum restructuring in which 46 jobs were lost.

Mr Clare presided over 30 redundancies at the MLA after eight of the organisation's nine regional agencies were wound down in 2008, British publishing industry news magazine The Bookseller reported.

WHO IS ROY CLARE?

* Since 2007, chief executive of the MLA.

* June 2007, made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to museums.

* Director of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich for seven years.

* Preparing for his new role by studying his Maori dictionary and'How to' book, reading many New Zealand history books.

* This year took a tour of the museum incognito to learn the ropes.

- additional reporting: NZPA