Te Papa names new CEO

Te Papa's board of directors has officially named Welshman Michael Houlihan as the new chief executive of "Our Place".

An official announcement was due at 9am, but the news was posted on the BBC website earlier today.

Currently head of Amgueddfa Cymru, a seven-museum group in Wales, Mr Houlihan would start later this year, Te Papa chairman John Judge said.

Mr Houlihan has been described as a "key visionary" by the president of the National Museum of Wales board of trustees.

Paul Lovelock told the BBC that Mr Houlihan had laid the foundations for the development of the Welsh National Folk Museum, St Fagans.

Mr Houlihan told the broadcaster that he was excited about his new position.

"Te Papa is world famous for its innovative approach to demonstrating how culture and community memory has moulded the history and identity of New Zealand's communities," he said.

Mr Houlihan was chosen after an international search to replace the museum's former chief executive, Seddon Bennington, who died while tramping in the Tararua Ranges in July.

Dr Bennington and his tramping companion Marcella Jackson were found dead in the snow. A post mortem examination revealed they had died of hypothermia.

- NZPA and NZHERALD STAFF