New museum head welcomed | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Whanganui Regional MuseumWhanganui Regional Museum hosted several prominent cultural representatives at a heartfelt powhiri yesterday, as the museum trust board welcomed a new manager.

In December last year the Whanganui Regional Museum Trust announced the appointment of Eric Dorfman to the new role of museum general manager, and this week he is in Wanganui to take the reins from interim director Debra Elgar.

Dr Dorfman was embraced into the Wanganui community by the Joint Council of the Whanganui Museum Trust, led by Whanganui iwi representatives John Maihi and George Waretini.

Also in attendance were Mayor Annette Main, district council officials and councillors; Te Papa chief executive Michael Houlihan; the National Army Museum's director, Col. (Ret) Ray Seymour; Sarjeant Gallery curator Greg Donson; Whanganui Regional Museum Trust Board members; Cullinane College principal Kevin Shore; museum staff and members of the Wanganui public.

Dr Dorfman was educated in the United States and has worked around the world. A man with extensive international museum connections, he is the director of Elektus, a consultancy company in the heritage sector, and is vice-president of the International Council of Museums of Natural History.

He holds a PhD in wildlife ecology from the University of Sydney, a Master's degree in marine biology (San Jose State University), and is an adjunct lecturer at Victoria University in the Museum Studies department.

The author and editor of several books in the field of science and natural history, he has recently written about the implications of climate change on New Zealand.

Museum trust board chairwoman Penny Robinson said the board is delighted to have a person of his skills, connections and enthusiasm at the helm.

"We are fortunate to have him join us as his background and skills are exactly what we've been looking for," she said.