MA CE Jaenine Parkinson joined RNZ last night to discuss this week's resignation of Te Papa's chief executive Courtney Johnston, sparking questions over its financial future.

"For many years the arrangement that Te Papa has found itself in, where it's roughly half contributed by government and roughly half self-funding, has been seen as a successful model, but over time costs increase: buildings age, staff costs become more expensive over time and unlike a business, a museum can't just simply stop doing those core responsibilities when circumstances become difficult.

Research must continue, collections still need to be preserved, taonga still needs care - and those obligations remain regardless of economic conditions and that's why we can't rely on the market solving some of these problems".

Listen here.