Motat head quits after 10 years

Jeremy Hubbard. Photo / Supplied

The director of one of New Zealand's most popular museums is leaving after a report which told of friction between staff and volunteers.

The decision by Jeremy Hubbard to leave the Museum of Transport and Technology comes at the end of his second five-year term as director and weeks after the resignation of its Australia-based board chairman Paul Bayly.

Both departures follow the completion of a report by former Te Papa museum chief Dame Cheryll Sotheran.

Her findings remain confidential but the inquiry uncovered long-running disputes between the museum and its founding society.

The museum was set up by the Motat Society and run as a volunteer organisation.

Legislation 12 years ago created the current Motat structure and included the legal requirement that it involve the founding society.

The combination of professional staff and the society's volunteers led to tension which resulted in court challenges and allegations of criminal behaviour.

Mr Hubbard became a target of frustration. During his time, the museum had constant rises in visitor numbers and developed its aircraft collection.

Acting board chairman James Doughty said Mr Hubbard's departure had no connection with the report, which was being used to help form the strategic plan for the next three years.