About us
Detlef Klein is the Principal of Manawatu Museum Services Ltd based in Palmerston North. He has been a heritage conservator since 1980, and acts as a consultant for heritage conservation &management projects. Trained in Germany, he has been resident n New Zealand since 1986 and a New Zealand citizen since 1992.
He was formerly employed as Curator /Conservator at Heritage New Zealand properties Kemp House & Stone Store (1992-1994) and Conservator / Conservation Outreach manager at Te Manawa in Palmerston North from 1994 to 2005.
Detlef Klein is a past President of the NZCCM (NZ Conservators of Cultural Materials) and was the Chairman of the Board of trustees of the National Museum of Audio Visual Arts & Sciences (MAVtech) in Foxton from 2005 to 2013, a role he was entrusted with again in the year 2021 - 2022; he continues as advisor in collections management and conservation.
Detlef Klein was a regular guest lecturer from 1994 to 2011 at the Massey University Museum Studies Programme and continued to work informally with that programme as occasional guest lecturer until 2022.
Recent projects have included the conservation of the Russell Clark sculpture group “Free Standing Forms” in Lower Hutt (2019), the conservation of nine pou by John Bevan Ford in Palmerston North (2019 to 2021) and large frames for The Sarjeant in Whanganui.
Working closely with specialists in conservation and related trades, the team at Manawatu Museum Services offer a wide range of services and associated expertise in the conservation of New Zealandʼs cultural heritage.
The Team
Detlef Klein
Materials Conservator and principal of Manawatu Museum Services Ltd
Pru Robbie
With a Bachelor of Maori Arts, Pru is a weaver in Muka, and conservation technician for textiles, Pru is also responsible for accounts / finance
Aaron Roberts
Specialist for design and manufacture of exhibition furniture and custom crating, also conservation / restoration of technology
Marco Buerger
Stone Conservator with a Masters degree in Conservation from Cologne Technical University and a qualified Stone Mason
Jonah Aslund
Designer and specialist in problem solving, technical solutions to conservation challenges
Warren Warbrick
Independent artist in Toi Maori and cultural advisor Taonga Maori for Manawatu Museum Services Ltd
Collaborations
John Coster
Feasibility Study for TRoT.
Jeremy Lawrence
Conservation of the Selwyn Desk, an Anton Seuffert desk for Auckland Museum and the deinstallation of Te Waharoa gateway on Aotea Square in 2008.
Emily Fryer
Conservation Proposal for Montfort stencils at Holy Trinity Church in Christchurch.
Mark Whyte / Goldfield Stone
Conservation of the Maori War Memorial at Moutoa Gardens in Whanganui.
Mathews & Mathews Architects
Preparation of a Conservation Plan for the historic Shalfoon Building in Opotiki.
NZMACI / Te Puia
Work with Eugene Kara, Head caster in the conservation project of the Te Arawa Soldiers Memorial in Rotorua.
Toi Iwi Tribal Art
Design collaboration in the replication of Rangitihi for the Te Arawa Soldiers Memorial in Rotorua.
Guest Contractors
Francois Leurquin
Guest contractor on conservation missions to Bourail War Cemetery between 2012 and 2017 for the Ministry of Culture & Heritage in New Caledonia
Miriam von Mulert
Guest contractor for the replication of a fully carved Italianate gilded frame for Auckland Art Gallery
Jessica Aitken
Researcher for the Conservation Plan prepared for the Russell Clark sculpture “Free Standing Forms in Lower Hutt”
Toni Edmeades
Researcher for Pouwhenua at Te Marae o Hine in Palmerston North, Researcher for Conservation Plan for the Shalfoon Building in Opotiki
Harald Bettin
Guest contractor for gilding projects and frame replication from 2009-2018