Heritage Studios

01/04/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝘆. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁.

Having a vision for your collection is the beginning. But knowing where to start is often where the real conversation begins.

Finding the right starting point means understanding the full ecosystem around your collection. How it's managed, how it's stored, what systems you have in place, and what else you're hoping to achieve. Because the most logical place to begin only becomes clear once you understand the bigger picture.

That conversation looks different every time. For some institutions it leads us to their catalogue and accession registers – building a digital foundation before objects are photographed. For others it uncovers at-risk material that needs to be prioritised. Alternatively, it’s an opportunity to take stock and get another perspective on where might be best to begin.

This is why we encourage institutions to come to us before they have all the answers. You don't need a fully formed plan to start the conversation. In fact, the earlier we talk, the better placed we are to help you get the most out of your project.

Start the conversation early. You might be surprised where it leads. [email protected]

25/03/2026

Exceptional results don't happen by accident.

That’s why every Heritage Studios workflow is designed to produce exceptional outcomes that exceed expectations and serve your needs now and into the future.

Grounded in thoughtful preparation, reflective practice and an unwavering commitment to collection care, we capture not only the physical form but the very essence.

By weaving together your deep knowledge of your collections with our specialist skills and advanced technology, we create exceptional digital treasures that serve your community while honouring the stories and heritage they contain.

Ready to see what thoughtful digitisation can achieve for your collection? Get in touch today [email protected]

Image: Capture of The New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa John Spencer Collection. Explore the collection online at https://collection.maritimemuseum.co.nz/highlights/johnspencer/objects

23/03/2026

Don’t miss out on tomorrow’s special kōrero celebrating the opening of Te Kahu – a landmark new home for Aotearoa’s documentary heritage. Check out the details below:

📣 We’re excited to bring people together this Wednesday for a special international panel discussion that also celebrates the official opening of Te Kahu, our new heritage campus.

Te Kahu unites Aotearoa New Zealand’s documentary heritage in one modern, purpose-built place — bringing together:

Te Rua – the new Archives building
Te Puna – the National Library building
Te Hono – the bridge that physically and symbolically connects them

As part of this occasion, our panel kōrero will reflect on what Te Kahu represents: a new chapter in how we care for, protect, and provide access to the stories, knowledge, and taonga held in our collections — now and for generations to come.

The panel will feature Chief Archivist Poumanaaki Anahera Morehu alongside four international leaders in the library and archives sector and will be facilitated by National Librarian Te Pouhuaki Rachel Esson.

Join us to be part of the conversation.

Livestream the event: https://youtube.com/live/E97qTb-xXsg?feature=share

See event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1642410440107667

Archives New Zealand

19/03/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀.

Every digitisation journey starts somewhere. In our experience, the ones that are both successful and transformative start with a conversation.

That conversation looks different every time. Because every institution is different – different collections, different communities, different challenges, different goals. But our starting point is always the same: listening first, understanding your context deeply, and only then helping you find the path that makes the most sense for you.

Whatever it leads to, whether that's a full partnership, a training programme, or simply a clearer sense of direction, that conversation is always the most valuable investment you can make in your collection's future.

Every great digitisation journey begins with a conversation. Let's start yours today. [email protected]

17/03/2026

You can almost smell the earthy warmth of cattle on golden sun-kissed paddocks, can't you? Feel the refreshing coastal breeze coming across those hills?

That's the power of a photograph – even decades later, it can transport you back. To the crunch of gravel and grass underfoot, the beating heat of the sun, that expansive impossibly blue sky, the particular quiet of being somewhere remote and beautiful.

Your slides and prints hold more than images. They hold the texture of your life, the atmosphere of moments you thought you'd forgotten.

Let Family Memories by Heritage Studios help you step back into those moments – transforming them not just as pictures, but as portals to your past, ready to share with the people you love.

Ready to take that journey? Email [email protected] for your information pack.

09/03/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀.

At its heart, every public heritage collection is an act of community trust. At Heritage Studios, we take that seriously. This is why one of the first questions we ask every new client is about their institution’s relationship with mana whenua and their wider local community.

Part of our process is ensuring that the people connected to a collection feel confident in how we operate. That they know their taonga is being handled with the same reverence they would bring to it themselves. This means embracing tikanga wholeheartedly, and always following the lead of the communities connected to the collection.

Genuine investment in these relationships doesn't just make a project more respectful – it makes it more meaningful. For the institution, for the communities connected to the collection, and for the taonga themselves. It's about genuinely caring – and that changes everything.

Consider the relationships woven through your collection. Digitisation done with genuine care for those relationships doesn't just preserve a collection. It strengthens the bonds between your communities and their heritage. If that's the kind of digitisation partnership you're looking for, let's talk [email protected]

05/03/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

Dream big. Where would you like to see your institution and collection in ten years?

It's not a question most people expect when they begin a digitisation conversation. But it's often the most important one.

After all, it's your vision that drives everything, and at Heritage Studios, that's exactly where we start.

When we truly understand where you want to go – your ambitions for your collection, your community, your institution – the technical decisions follow naturally. Resolution, file formats, metadata structures, workflows. These aren't arbitrary choices. They're threads that connect your vision to your community.

That's why we start every conversation not with specifications, but with questions. What is standing in your way? Who do you want to reach? What does success look like in the next year, 5 years, even 25 years?

Take a moment to sit with those questions. Because your digital files are only as powerful as their purpose.

And when you're ready to explore what your answers mean for your collection, we'd love to help you weave that vision into reality. [email protected]

03/03/2026

Looking to measure the impact of your digital services and digitisation efforts?

This blog post from the National Library of New Zealand is not to be missed. In the first of a six-part series, Michael Lascarides considers what impact actually is and the value of measuring it in this era of digital access and funding pressures.

Follow the link below and keep an eye on the National Library’s blog as the series unfolds.

Exploring what ‘impact’ means for our digital services.

26/02/2026

Some memories demand a closer look.

Your slides hold more than images – they hold the warmth of moments that matter. The laughter, the adventures, the people who shaped your story.

We bring them into focus, capturing every detail with the precision your stories deserve.

Let's bring your memories to life: [email protected]

24/02/2026

Heritage Studios' small, close-knit team means you'll personally know every individual working on your project.

This isn't just about names and faces – it's about genuine partnership. Our team are heritage lovers who bring genuine excitement to your collections. We're invested in understanding what makes your material special, what matters most to your community, and how we can exceed your expectations.

When you work with Heritage Studios, you're working directly with the specialists digitising your collection – people who care deeply about getting it right and capturing not only the physical form but the very essence of your material.

Ready to experience the difference a personal approach makes? We’d love to hear from you, [email protected]

19/02/2026

Strategic digitisation partnerships unlock opportunities.

But not all partnerships are created equal.

What makes Heritage Studios different?
We’re cultural collaborators, not just service providers. We partner with you to weave together your knowledge of your collection with specialist skills, technology and bespoke workflows refined by Heritage Studios across hundreds of digitisation projects. Together, we create solutions that meet your institution's unique needs and situation, bringing exceptional, value-for-money results.

But here's what really sets us apart.

Your team doesn’t just get digital images at the end of the project.

Through transparent processes and collaborative workflows rooted in openness and approachability, we build internal capacity and understanding of digitisation and data management as part of our journey together – opening doors and unlocking opportunities to help your institution thrive.

Ready to explore what a strategic partnership with Heritage Studios could mean for your collection? Contact us: [email protected]

Image taken at Whangārei Museum.

16/02/2026

Don’t miss out! Last week to see this excellent exhibition at MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology).