Care for Objects, Artworks & Taonga
Whether you are looking after a family heirloom, a museum collection, an artwork, an archaeological find, or taonga of deep cultural significance, we provide careful conservation treatment to help protect what matters. Our work focuses on stabilising damage, slowing deterioration, and supporting the long-term care of each piece in a way that respects its material, story, and context. This reflects Heritage Preservation’s focus on ethical treatment, authenticity, and cultural context across a wide range of heritage materials.
We know every object is different. Some need urgent stabilisation. Others need careful repair, condition assessment, or a treatment plan before any work begins. We take the time to understand what you have, what condition it is in, and what outcome is appropriate, so you can make informed decisions with confidence. That approach is consistent with your published emphasis on transparent proposals, specialist knowledge, and appropriate materials and methods.
For taonga and culturally significant material, care must go beyond the physical object. We recognise the importance of tikanga, mātauranga Māori, and respectful relationships with iwi, hapū, and whānau. Our aim is to support care that is technically sound and culturally grounded. That community-based and tikanga-aware approach is a recurring part of Heritage Preservation’s kaupapa and internal values.
Your objects carry history, meaning, and connection. We help you care for them with skill, respect, and a clear plan.
“What an incredible piece of conservation work.”
Conservation Treatment
Our conservation treatment services focus on stabilising, repairing, and caring for objects, artworks, taonga, and heritage materials so they can be preserved for the future. Each treatment begins with a careful assessment of the material, condition, and context of the item, followed by a clear plan tailored to its needs. We use ethical, tested methods to address damage, reduce deterioration, and support long-term care while respecting the object’s history and significance. Whether treating a single treasured item or a complex collection, our goal is to help each piece remain safe, meaningful, and accessible for generations to come.
Modern Art and Outdoor Sculpture
Modern artworks and outdoor sculptures often combine complex materials, changing surfaces, and environmental challenges. Our conservation treatment begins with close examination, documentation, and an understanding of the artist’s intent, materials, and display context. We develop tailored treatment plans for mixed-media works, installations, painted surfaces, metals, stone, and other sculptural materials, focusing on stabilisation, careful repair, and long-term resilience. For outdoor works, we also consider weathering, public access, installation conditions, and ongoing maintenance so each piece can continue to be safely experienced and appreciated.
Maritime and Archaeological Materials
We are the nations experts in the conservation of maritime materials. Maritime and archaeological objects often require careful treatment because burial, water, salts, corrosion, and environmental change can leave materials highly vulnerable once recovered. Our conservation treatment focuses on stabilising these objects, understanding their material condition, and developing practical treatment plans that support both research and long-term care. We work with materials such as waterlogged wood, metals, ceramics, glass, leather, fibres, and mixed archaeological assemblages, using methods suited to each object’s history and condition. From excavation support through to studio treatment, documentation, and storage advice, we help protect archaeological and maritime heritage so its stories can continue to be studied, shared, and cared for.
Read about the discovery and conservation challenges of the Daring shipwreck.
Taonga Conservation and Care
Taonga require care that respects both their physical materials and their whakapapa, meaning, and cultural context. Our treatment approach begins with listening, working alongside kaitiaki, whānau, hapū, iwi, and collection teams to understand what is appropriate before any treatment decisions are made. We provide careful assessment, documentation, stabilisation, and treatment for taonga, using conservation methods that support long-term preservation while upholding tikanga and cultural values. Our role is to help care for taonga in a way that is transparent, respectful, and guided by the people and communities connected to them.
Explore the story of a Taranaki waka brought to light after 150 years.