Authorised Heritage Discourse in Relation to Museum Collection Digital Access

This paper explores the tension between Authorised Heritage Discourse (AHD) and the digital democratisation of museum collections. Using the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa as a primary case study, it examines how mass digitisation, often framed as a universal good, can inadvertently reinforce colonial authority and create new trauma for indigenous communities. The paper contrasts "open by default" strategies with layered access models that prioritise indigenous data sovereignty and cultural safety.