For communities impacted by the ongoing flood events, coupled with the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle, attention may soon be turning to how best to care for damaged belongings such as photographs, books, artworks and music collections.

Field Conservator Vicki-Anne Heikell from the National Preservation Office, Alexander Turnbull Library, is available to give advice to kaimahi on what steps they can take to salvaging water-damaged memories and treasures.

We are thinking of the people affected by the recent bad weather. We know that people will be focused on the circumstances of their immediate whānau and friends. We extend aroha and tautoko to you and the wider community, particularly in the coming days and weeks when attention turns to salvaging whānau memories and treasures.

A resource on salvaging flood-damaged collections can be found here on the National Library website: Disaster recovery

There is also specific advice on drying your whānau collections with a one-page printable PDF checklist: Drying your whānau collections

Whānau wanting advice on salvage of their whānau collections can contact Vicki-Anne directly via mobile phone or email,

Vicki-Anne’s details:

Vicki-Anne Heikell [Nō Te Whānau-a-Apanui]
Field Conservator Kaitauwhiro-a-Waho
Outreach Services, Alexander Turnbull Library
M: +64 027 560 8601
E: vicki-anne.heikell@dia.govt.nz E: preservation@dia.govt.nz

The National Library of New Zealand has set up a blog post about support they may be able to offer to schools affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Their blog post explains ways they can support schools. These include:

• advice about how to salvage resources or deal with damaged libraries
• what to do if National Library books are lost or damaged (don't worry!)
• special loans if your books are no longer fit for purpose
• a discoverable collection of books that we have curated to help you have conversations with your ākonga (students).

Read more in their post: Our support for schools impacted by the floods and cyclone.