Conservation aims to preserve cultural heritage for as long as possible. Preservation is usually achieved through preventive measures and remedial treatments, which minimise chemical and physical deterioration.

Preventive Conservation

Preventive conservation is regularly carried out by many museum workers and volunteers. Activities include integrated pest management (IPM), environmental control, and proper storage, handling, and display of taonga/cultural treasures. While handling and display inevitably expose cultural materials and artworks to agents of deterioration, preventive conservation techniques can ensure these activities are carried out in a way that minimises damage.

Remedial Conservation

Remedial or interventive conservation treatments are carried out by trained conservation professionals. The goal is to preserve cultural materials and artworks through activities such as cleaning away damaging dirt and extraneous materials, supporting weak or damaged areas to prevent further deterioration, and relaxing distorted areas (e.g. removing creases from textiles). While the main purpose is to minimise future deterioration, treatments can also enhance the interpretation of cultural heritage, e.g. through visually infilling losses.

Restoration vs Conservation

Restoration usually has more of an emphasis on visual enhancement or reconstruction than conservation, and aims to take an item back to its original form and appearance. While remedial conservation can push towards restoration in terms of reassembly or visual infilling, the primary goal of conservation is always to preserve the original material of an item. Dirt, damage, and signs of use are part of an item’s history and sometimes its significance, so conservators use caution when considering treatment options. It is important to remember:

• Conservators aim for minimal intervention, stabilise and retain original material, and choose methods that are reversible if possible.

• Conservators use materials with good ageing properties.

• Conservators document their treatments through written reports and photographs to ensure any changes to an item are recorded for future owners and kaitiaki/caretakers.

• Conservators should be members of a professional body (e.g. New Zealand Conservators of Cultural Materials) and adhere to their Codes of Ethics and Practice.