Mark Sykes, currently Kaitiaki Collection Manager Māori at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, has been appointed to the position of Manager Collections and Research at the Whakatāne Museum and Research Centre - Te Whare Taonga o Taketake.

Whakatāne District Council Community Services General Manager Mike Naude says Mr Sykes will take up his role on 1 July.

"Mark is a former staff member of the Museum, who contributed significantly to the management of our important fabrics collection. Since he moved to Te Papa in 2010, he has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies and a Masters degree in Museum and Heritage Practice," Mr Naude says. "His experience as the Kaitiaki of Te Papa's Māori collections, and in meeting the needs of internal, external and international visitors and researchers, will be extremely valuable and we look forward to welcoming him back to the Whakatāne District."