New Te Papa chair and board member appointed

Sir Wira Gardiner has been appointed as Chair of the Board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and Fiona Campbell appointed as a member of the Board, Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Sir Wira Gardiner had a twenty year army career, before becoming founding director of the Waitangi Tribunal. He has served as the General Manager of the Iwi Transition Agency, and as the founding Chief Executive of the Ministry of Māori Development.  He is currently the Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission. Sir Wira was first appointed as a member of the Te Papa Board on 1 July 2009.

Fiona Campbell of Wanaka was an artist in glass casting and a graphic designer before she commenced philanthropic support of the arts. Her Real Art Road Trust has established two purpose built gallery trucks, containing art works touring hundreds of schools annually, particularly in rural areas. Her Real Art Charitable Trust also helps artists and local galleries in a variety of ways, including producing catalogues, assisting with overseas promotion, providing prizes and increasing staffing. In 2009 she was the Supreme Winner of the NBR sponsorship of the Arts Award.