NEWS FLASH - APPEAL FROM TASMAN BAYS HERITAGE TRUST

WE NEED YOUR LETTERS OF SUPPORT

Nelson Provincial Museum has a proud and envied record of Education Services. It started years ago with teachers seconded from Stoke Primary School. With the advent of Learning Experience Outside The Classroom Contracts the educators became direct employees of the Museum, first at Isel Park and then in town at TA445. Even during the transition period when the new Museum was being created they maintained services to schools in the Nelson-Tasman region.

In the 2009 school year the education team worked with over 9000 students from 70% of the schools in our widespread region. The Ministry of Education conduct independent reviews of every LEOTC provider and our programme consistently receives positive evaluations. Once every three years we are obliged to resubmit an application to become a preferred provider. The Museum has been notified it has not made the cutoff for a new contract. This means our programme funding ends on 30 June 2010. This is devastating for the Education team but they remain focused on the work ahead. Between now and the end of June we have some exciting and innovative programmes and exhibitions in the Social Sciences/Tikanga a Iwi curriculum area suitable for a wide range of year levels.

What can you do to help us?

The Trust Board invites all supporters and schools to write letters indicating what the loss of serviced education programmes means to our Nelson-Tasman region, schools and students. Given the exhibition schedule from 1 July 2010 to early 2011 this could be very serious indeed. Whether you are a teacher of our students, a parents or grandparent, or a supporter of the educational focus of New Zealand's oldest museum, your support will be of direct benefit.

Our staff, the CEO and a special task force initiated by the Trust Board, are working hard to secure the funding necessary to retain the services we believe the region's schools have come to value so highly. We are in discussion with the Ministry of Education and we are enlisting the support of our local and regional MPs.

Don't delay - write today.

Please ask that funding be found to retain the serviced education programme at the Nelson Provincial Museum and address your letters to the following:

Hon. Dr Nick Smith (Nelson) Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings Wellington 6160 n.smith@ministers.govt.nz

Chris Auchinvole MP (Tasman) Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings Wellington 6160 chris.auchinvole@parliament.govt.nz

Rahui Reid Katene MP Te Tai Tonga Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings Wellington 6160 rahui.katene@parliament.govt.nz

Exhibition Schedule

Appo Hocton, NZ's first Chinese migrant opens 27 February 2010.

Shelter from the Storm - NZ soldiers in Crete during 1941-45 opens for ANZAC weekend.

Treaty2U from Te Papa opens in mid-May.

Future Food opens early July

Our major internally generated Maritime exhibition opens at start of October and traces the journey of a family from Gravesend to Nelson in 1842, the same year Appo Hocton arrived in Nelson.