OTAGO MUSEUM

ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY
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OUTCOMES INDICATORS PERFORMANCE MEASURES ACHIEVED OR NOT ACHIEVED PERFORMANCE STATUS
We will be a
valued
community
resource.
Attract over 400,000 visitors to
the Museum
Measurements from door-counting
and camera systems
NOT ACHIEVED:
2014/15 – 302,938 (using new
measuring system)
2013/14 – 508,829 (using old
measuring system)
2013/14 (307,502 (approx.
using new measuring system)
As measured with new counting methodology, 2014–15 visitor numbers total 302,938. (2013–14,
508,829 using previous measuring system).
Following a review of door counter systems, it was determined that visitor numbers prior to the 2013–
14 year were inflated due to the algorithms used in the counting software and adjustments made
based on estimates.
From 12 March 2014, the counting software used to measure visitor numbers has been reviewed and
updated and the number of people counted is more accurate. Prior to this date all numbers have been
brought into line with updated counting methods.
Using the new parameters the following results were achieved:
2014 2013 (original) 2013 (adjusted)
302,938 508,829 307,502
Attract over 150,000 visitors to
the Museum’s website
Website numbers remain high
NOT ACHIEVED:
2014/15 – 85,430 unique hits
2013/14 – 82,869 unique hits
It was hoped that by 2014/15 a new website would have been operational to encourage further
engagement online. However, this was postponed until 2015/16 to incorporate the new planetarium
and Discovery World redevelopment offering. This meant that the anticipated growth in website hits
was not achieved, although growth over the previous year was seen.
Develop a wide-ranging
community engagement
strategy that identifies
potential collaborations and
contributors, aligning with the
Museum’s collection to meet
our strategic goals
Community engagement strategy
developed and implemented to
forge new opportunities to engage
with communities and key
stakeholders, and provide a forum
for discussion
ACHIEVED:
Community engagement with
wide range of groups and
organisations using the
Museum’s collection and
venues, and engaging with
staff
Some of the Museum’s fundamental objectives are to engage with wider audiences, to use the
collections to facilitate discussion and education, and to provide a safe forum for open discussion
about many subjects related to local, national and international communities. Many collaborations
were undertaken over the year that brought in new audiences and interest groups.
Below are examples of some of the organisations and subjects presented, discussed and displayed
within our venues:
• University of Otago, Mozart Fellow and Robert Burns Fellow, world première of Flutter
concert, Discovery World Tropical Forest and Atrium
• University of Otago Department of Botany, Spring Storytelling Series Jack's Garden, Nature
Gallery
• University of Otago School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences and Applied
Science, Student Presentation Sports Technology Expo, Atrium
• Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Awareness Week 2015, Museum-wide
• Centre for Science Communication and Department of Conservation, film screening, An
Evening At Sea, Seaweek
• Dunedin Public Libraries, school holiday gallery trail, The Five Heroic Tasks of Otago Museum