Tiaan is a local girl with three generations calling Russell Kororāreka home. She originally joined the Museum a few years back but headed over to Australia to be with family. Her family have returned to Russell so she is back on board at the Whare Taonga of Kororāreka, a welcome return to the team.

Tiaan is the welcoming face you see when you visit the Museum, and she also looks after the shop.

Sue joined the Russell Museum board as a trustee in 2017 With a Bachelor of History & Anthropology  and recent studies in Te Reo and Tikanga Maori, Sue brings a multi-cultural perspective on Russell’s past and future potential, and a passion for engaging and connecting people with their past. Sue’s career has been focused on customer facing industries, (Insurance and Tourism) and she has co-owned and operated a number of small NZ businesses and currently owns and operates a local bed & breakfast. Sue has also spent a number of years involved with volunteer groups teaching English as a second language to refugees and new migrants.

Sue contributes her strong operational skills and a deep understanding of the needs of tourists and visitors gained from her years in tourism to design and drive new fundraising initiatives for the redevelopment of the Museum and Community centre. In her spare time, Sue loves spending time with her grandkids, sailing, playing tennis and participating in the Russell Gardening Club.

Maria is Ngati Kuta, Ngati Manu, Ngapuhi and was born in Taitokerau Northland moving to Kororāreka when she was 3 years old. Maria initially worked at Auckland hospital in administration before travelling to England. There she met her future husband and got married before returning back to New Zealand and to the hospital. She then embarked on a long and rewarding career in education, working initially at Auckland Secondary School Training College. She joined Selwyn College as Executive Officer, where she took on the role of Buildings Project Manager and leading all support staff in the College. She returned home to Russell Kororāreka on her retirement in 2011.

Her grandfather, Hamiora Maioha was instrumental in the building of this Museum and a foundation Trustee so she feels privileged to continue on his legacy.

I have had a love of history and art ever since I can remember.  As a result I have been working as an arts and heritage professional for the past 40 years.  I have developed an affinity for community museums to assist in telling and connecting stories and taonga to people and place, and not just a repository for collections.  History is what defines us as an individual, a society, and as a nation.

I initially did a couple of contracts for the Russell Museum before being offered the position of Manager Curator.  Prior to here I was the Manager of the Waipu Museum for 4 years, where I successfully nominated the Nova Scotian documentary heritage collection for UNESCO Memory of the World listing.  A consultancy I did in conducting a full audit and report of the Fiji Museum funded by relief aid from the Australia Government that brought me to New Zealand.  I spent 5 years as a consultant working mostly in tandem with local government and community museums and galleries.  I have worked for the Queensland Museum as regional Museum Development Officer for 13 years, Mary MacKillop Place Museum, the Art Gallery of NSW as Registrar of Exhibitions, and the Historic Houses Trust over the last 40 years.  All of which I have enjoyed immensely.