Senior Film Preservation Archivist (Colourist) - Kairokiroki Taonga Matua - Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

Mō Mātou | About Us

Ngā Taonga is the audiovisual archive for Aotearoa New Zealand and an independent Charitable Trust with 80+ kaimahi who are committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and protecting our precious taonga, while recognising multiple world views. This is an opportunity to join an organisation passionate about caring for and sharing the precious taonga in the collection ensuring all New Zealanders will be able to know their history and connect with their cultural identity. E pupuru ana mātou i ngā taonga ataata-rongo o Aotearoa hei taonga tuku iho, hei whakapapa kōrero.

Ko ngā pūkenga e hiahiatia ana | About you

We’re looking for someone and who is excited to join a team of dedicated archivists working to ensure the survival of New Zealand Aotearoa’s film history. The Senior Film Preservation Archivist (Colourist) takes the lead in archival post-production work (specifically grading) focused on the treatment of complex and high-profile heritage titles for preservation and screening as well as providing mentoring and thought leadership in the wider field.

We’re looking for a skilled practitioner with:

• 5+ years of experience as a lead colourist, ideally with analogue-originated film titles.
• Ability to work closely with a team of specialists
• Appetite to engage with the Ngā Taonga collection and preservation teams beyond the grading suite
• Interest and affinity for history and archival film and a willingness to embrace an archival ethos, practice and standards
• Willingness to mentor colleagues in areas of expertise
• Experience with data management and detailed record keeping

Ko ngā whāinga o te tūranga: | The role will see you:

• Take on the senior colourist role in the preservation of classic New Zealand films, iconic television programs, documentary footage, rediscovered gems and other unique cultural records dating back over 125 years.
• Connect with a variety of stakeholders including iwi, individual depositors, GLAM sector colleagues, commercial entities, producers and filmmakers, ensuring the survival and access of unique content now and into the future.
• Mentor colleagues in archival post-production techniques and provide thought-leadership, including developing and improving processes and keeping abreast of developments in the field.

Ko ngā hua o te tūranga? | What’s in it for you?

• A wellness and work/life-balance focused working environment including working 65-hour fortnight full-time (please note this role is mainly office-based).
• Relaxed and friendly working atmosphere with an established team of like-minded colleagues who are passionate about what they do.
• Working in an organisation that values equity, diversity, and inclusion in an environment that cares deeply about saving and sharing New Zealand’s audiovisual heritage.

Salary: $85,958 - $101,127 + KiwiSaver – 2025 remuneration ranges

This is an incredibly exciting time to join Ngā Taonga as we move forward with our film preservation programme in a location with purpose-built facilities on a shared campus with the organisation’s wider cross-disciplinary Digital Preservation and Technology Group.

Tono mai | How to apply

We encourage and consider transferable skills and experience gained from outside of work e.g., cultural, community work, sports, volunteering, or a comparable role in a different sector.

If this opportunity interests you, please submit your CV and cover letter, include information about the following in your cover letter and CV relating to:

• Experience in a similar role that included a large component of high-level grading work on archival material
• Where you’ve shown curiosity and tried new things, taken on other perspectives, challenged the norm, learned, and applied or shared your learnings.
• How you’ve demonstrated, encouraged, or supported diversity and inclusion in or outside of work.
• Examples of demonstrating leadership, e.g., led by example, demonstrated problem solving, owned a project or piece of work, spoken up for yourself or others.

Note that candidates who progress to interview will be asked to submit examples of their work as part of the interview process.

If this opportunity interests you, please submit your CV and cover letter. You can find a copy of the Position Description on our Careers Page (www.ngataonga.org.nz/about-us/work-for-us). You are also welcome to reach out to our People Practice team for more information at mahi@ngataonga.org.nz

Applications close on Monday 4 August 2025.

Note:

We will be screening applications and inviting candidates to interview as the applications come through. You may be asked to complete a pre-interview screen via phone or video. Please let us know in your application if we need to make any specific accommodations during our process.

You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand. Background and various pre-employment checks are part of our recruitment process