on not losing

We gathered today as kaimahi of National Library of New Zealand in an all staff hui to pause and acknowledge this time of Matariki mā Puanga. Each of the Directors were asked to reflect on the past year and to share their hopes for the future.

As my role is disestablished on 30 June, I took the liberty of treating it as a farewell address of sorts.

I had told my team that I would be using the core of the words I shared earlier in May, and made a remark that sequels are never as good as the original.

After the session, one of them messaged me to say "it was Empire/Aliens level" - which is a comparison I will gladly accept.

Kia ora koutou and ni sa bula vinaka to everyone here and those in the call. 

It is my turn to say a few words.

In the tough chats and sessions I’ve had over the last few months – I’ve had this scribbled at the top of my notebook:

"Clear eyes. Full hearts."

To me 'clear eyes' means - Be present – stay above the emotion of the moment

And 'full hearts' means - Be brave, be righteous in what you say and do.

So I will try and do that today.

It is a season of change. And this time of Matariki is about acknowledging what has been, and of looking forward to new growth and opportunities.

Our mahi has always been about change – in Digital Experience we just call it continuous improvement and wrap it up in agile processes and software upgrades.

Over the past year, this team has done deliberate, delightful things.

We rebuilt the entire server stack of PapersPast.
We added text corrections to PapersPast.
We added multiple new content partners and records to digitalNZ.
We supported external agencies such as Te Papa and the MoE, as the digitalNZ API powers Kōtuia and parts of the Ministry's curriculum resources.
We watched AI bots arrive, and arrive, and arrive - before going away - and then coming back.
We maintained, and maintained and maintained.
We navigated multiple layers of procurement, security, assurance, and finance, sometimes more successfully than others.
We supported and delivered work that allowed all parts of the library to shine.

Through all of that – we did these things and more, kindly and with care for each other, for those we worked alongside and for the work itself.

With consideration, responsiveness and calmness.

Although, I’d like to apologise formally to the team whose desks are next to us, as the swear tally chart is currently pretty loaded.

I want to acknowledge the managers of this team, who when we gathered to consider and write feedback to the Functional Design proposal back in November, wrestled with this reality...

 “Maybe DigitalNZ isn’t the thing any more…”

This simple statement, about our own shared identity, was, for me at least, a comment that gave all of us the clarity and the courage to shape our feedback together.

To separate our value to the institutions from that identity. 

To consider, imagine and optimise an alignment of roles and functions, and a new way forward for the mahi and the institutions.

We come now to this gathering – just a few days out from that new organisation being stood up.

And we turn to what gives us hope, what we are looking forward too.

What gives me hope is knowing that each of those I had the privilege of leading have roles in the new organisation.

What gives me hope is that five of the direct reports to the incoming Director Digital are those that I have coached, and that makes me very proud.

I look forward to what they lead currently for the Library, continuing across the new organisation. I can do so, look forward that is, because I know these individuals and the care, clarity and courage that is in them.

I have hope in my colleagues, who from 1 July have been tasked with leading this new organisation. There is much to do and many expectations.

Be kind. Be strong. Be uplifting. 

The kaimahi of this new organisation deserve nothing less.

On a personal note -  it has been a humbling and unique honour in being both the first and the last Pacific Islander to hold a place on this leadership team of Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.

To speak gently to the simple truth - that if we believe Aotearoa New Zealand is a Pacific nation - then what choices as leaders can and must we make.

That reality and those of the Pacific solwara within these institutions give me hope - vinaka and meitaki to each of you.

Those words I’ve had scribbled in my notebook are of course from “Friday Night Lights” and I wanted to finish with the fuller quote from that movie - because I think these words capture some of what I feel, as I reflect on what it has meant to lead this team through this year - but also speak to how I hope we can all collectively step forward. 

“To me, being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye, and know that you didn’t let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything you could — there wasn’t one more thing you could have done.

Can you live in that moment?

As best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart. With joy in your heart.

If you can do that, then you’re perfect.”

In the TV series Friday Night Lights, this speech became simply:

“Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can’t Lose.”

Here at the end of this season, for my team, for this place and for myself - my eyes are clear, my heart is full and I have not lost.

Here’s to each of you - to continuing to be in the moment, to being perfect, and to never losing.

Thank you, Nga mihi nui, vinaka vaka levu.