on a putting down

I did not plan to be the leader tasked with winding up the DigitalNZ/Digital Experience identity at Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.

These names represent a team of kind, caring, deliberate public servants whose legacy of user experience uplift and providing visibility and access to the collections held by the Library, goes back to 2008.

The mahi and those in the current team will continue in new teams as the National Library works closer with Te Rua Mahara within a new organisational structure that is stood up on 1 July 2025.

But these names rest now.

I spoke at our team day in early May when the current team alongside a number of former members joined in person for the final time. It was a time of connection and communing over shared kai and a cuppa.

These were my words.
I have edited them to remove names and details that were for those in the room, but the heart remains the same.

Kia ora koutou and ni sa bula vinaka to everyone.

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.

Firstly to acknowledge those of you here – formerly of DigitalNZ, some formerly of the Library, and to each of the current members of Digital Experience. Thank you for joining in person – to connect and share some time together at this season. Also to those who can’t be here in person – I acknowledge them.

It is a season of change.

But this mahi has always been about change – we just call it continuous improvement and wrap it up in agile processes. Now this isn’t a retro, because if it was one, it would go on for quite some time.

But it’s a moment to catchup in person - with all of us here for NDF -  which has been a large part in the DNZ/DX story, and this afternoon we’ll be spending some time with Boost, who were Boost New Media – way back at the start of it all.

As the former Programme Manager for digitalpasifik.org – I want to acknowledge this team for welcoming us way back in January of 2020. And for supporting that kaupapa over the last five years.

As the last Director of Digital Experience/DigitalNZ, I followed on from Andy and Fi, and very much strove to foster a team that continued to be high performing. A team that remained ever focused on designing and delivering a better user experience for those who interact with NLNZ’s many collections and services. That was a rollercoaster, with changing expectations and demands at times internally, at times externally, and as always from users themselves.

I started as Director in January of 2022, and those first few weeks were dominated by the Parliamentary protest, and then the Omicron wave. It has been a wonderful ride since then – and definitely not all downhill.

This team did 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 rebuilt Supplejack.
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 allows all parts of the library to shine; legal deposit, public engagement, services to schools, the Alexander Turnbull to name a few.
We stopped using Twitter.
And on a personal level, digitalpasifik shone and shone, and enabled us to reach out across the solwara, with multiple new relationships made and fostered.

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 the swear tally wall is currently pretty loaded.

And the last months have been overshadowed by this cycle of functional design – which has been enormously challenging. I want to particularly acknowledge our managers who when we gathered to consider and write feedback to the 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 from that identity. To consider, imagine and optimise an alignment of roles and functions, and a new way forward for our mahi, and for the institutions.

And we come now to this gathering – which isn’t the last – we’re still in the transition process, and the new org structure doesn’t stand up until 1 July. 

I believe we will continue to walk forward through the next few months as we have done so far.
Gently and with kindness, in grief, but also sharing joy and making space for each other as needed.

For as long as we can – and for some of us, beyond 1 July as well. The mahi will continue and I know the care and dedication of the individuals here will do so as well - because that is who you each are.

I opened with the tagline 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 for the time that I have.

“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.”

I am so very proud of this group and so very grateful for those who came before.

It has been an absolute privilege to be in this role, to lead each of you and represent the work we do within and through this institution.

Here’s to continuing to be in the moment and to being perfect.

Vinaka