Commercial and Partnerships team leader joins Te Unua Museum of Southland

The journey from care facilities in the United Kingdom, to construction sites in the deep south of Aotearoa, might not seem like the most linear of paths.

But for Te Unua Museum of Southland’s new Commercial and Partnerships team leader, Helen Robinson, it makes perfect sense.

Now in her fourth week in the role, she is relishing being part of the team working to bring Southland’s new museum to life.

“I would definitely say that Te Unua is a place for connection. It has been designed so carefully and thoughtfully, with everybody in mind – from a children’s perspective, all the way through to accessibility, to ensure it is a really inclusive space. My hope is that Te Unua Museum of Southland becomes that place of meeting, that it is synonymous with connection and community for whichever group of people come through its doors,” she said.

“I just think the exhibitions are going to blow people away. People potentially still have the idea of ‘museum, stuffy objects, lots of reading’ – but what has been designed is just incredible, and what the team will do I think will be really breathtaking for people.”

Robinson and her family made the move to Invercargill from the Shetland Islands five years ago, when she took up the role as General Manager at the Southern Charity Hospital. She spent about two years in that role, before taking up the mantle as Project Manager at the Hawthorndale Care Village.

“I think I actually kind of fell into the change, going from care facilities to construction. I didn’t really make a conscious decision to take that route, but I actually quite like the building things. I quite like donning my hard hat!

“I really enjoy the process element of it all, and having a background in care isn’t as big of a leap as it seems, because it’s still very process-driven as well,” Robinson said.

“It’s really rewarding, seeing something come out of the ground. I think the draw of the role here at Te Unua was really the community aspect as well. All of the projects I have worked on have all had the community at their heart, which fits quite nicely.

“Our family never had the chance to experience the old Southland Museum and Art Gallery, we’ve just heard the stories, and it’s clear having a community space like that in Invercargill is very missed. It is really exciting to be working on what will be an amazing asset for future generations of Southlanders.”

Her role would be two-pronged, with part of its focus on the day-to-day operations of the commercial spaces, and the other focused on developing commercial partnerships within the community. There were myriad opportunities to connect with supporters – from large national and regional organisations, to smaller local businesses, she said.

“I think Te Unua Museum of Southland is a huge win for thinking along the lines of corporate sponsorship. Because of the nature of the facility, and its importance to the community – not only as a place to go and visit, but as a space that preserves the history and stories of our place – there are so many really nice synergies for businesses and organisations to align themselves with,” she said.

There were many businesses and organisations operating out of the south that punched above their weight at a national level, as well as other large ventures based elsewhere that still had deep bonds with the Southland region, she said.

“It’s also about ensuring that relationship is mutual. It’s not just about ‘here’s some cash, here’s your name on part of the building’ – it’s something that both parties can really benefit from. As we start to plan the strategy around the funding, and executing that plan, that’s where we should try and tap into that: it’s about not just encouraging people to be part of the build. It’s about carrying on, and nurturing, those partnerships in the long-term. I think that is where I can really see the benefits of my last two roles. It’s crucial to keep those relationships really close and well looked-after, so that people feel valued. There are some really good opportunities there, and I’m excited to be part of pulling that together.”

There had been so much work already poured into the development of the museum to date, and a lot still left to do – but she was confident it would all stand Te Unua Museum of Southland in good stead prior to its scheduled opening in late 2026, Robinson said.

“There are so many great museums in New Zealand – some pretty amazing institutions that have been around for a long time – and our aim is to ensure Te Unua Museum of Southland is among them. It will be a place for the people who call Southland home to see their stories reflected back at them, but it will also be a wonderful attraction to draw people to the region – another string in Southland’s bow.”

Te Unua Museum of Southland Director Eloise Wallace said Robinson brought a wealth of invaluable expertise to the project.

“We are delighted to have Helen on board to work alongside what is shaping up to be an incredibly formidable team,” she said.

“In her previous roles, Helen has forged strong connections with those both within the region and further afield – and those will play a huge part in ensuring our facility is celebrated and supported by stakeholders critical to the ongoing success of Te Unua Museum of Southland.”