Abstract:
Humanity faces complex environmental, societal, and economic problems. Agenda 2030 articulates a
shared ambition for peace and prosperity. Central to this are the Sustainable Development Goals,
representing an urgent call to action intentionally structured to encourage participation from
governments and societies.
Policy scholarship documents the role of civil society in developing and implementing policy, including
contributions to global programmes through local and national actions. Alongside civil society are public
sector organisations separate from ministries, which may facilitate connections between civil society
and government. Museums, often cited as highly trusted institutions, offer local civic spaces where the
public can participate in learning, dialogue, and debate. In this way, museums have the potential to
connect civil society to government, catalysing support for national and global objectives through local
actions. However, little primary data exists about how museums contribute to policy processes or the
role of museums in connecting civil society and government.
This thesis looks to fill this gap by examining the case of New Zealand’s Museum sector and how it
contributes to Agenda 2030 through its role as a conduit to local action for global change. Specifically,
it conceptualises museums as intermediary organisations, exploring stakeholders' perspectives to
identify current activities, potential challenges, and future opportunities. The research findings highlight
museums as trusted civic spaces with unique abilities to connect knowledge to the public and
policymakers, fostering participation and collaboration. Policy scholars have given limited attention to
museums as potential change agencies. In addition, the findings also highlight that insufficient
resourcing is a significant barrier Museums face to reaching their full potential in this area.
In conclusion, museums are relevant actors within the public policy ecosystem who can catalyse local
actions to achieve national and global policy objectives. As inclusive and accessible institutions,
museums can be considered an intermediary between civil society and government. They make
substantial contributions to Agenda 2030 through direct actions relating to sustainability and wellbeing
and indirectly through contributing to social cohesion, capacity, and public understanding. Future
research could identify specific mutually beneficial connections between museums, civil society, and
government to build this potential.