Archive stories, archive realities

Abstract

This article explores the power of archives in New Zealand and overseas. It traces the change of idea that the archivist is passive, neutral and objective to a questioning of that view. The author argues that archives are viewed increasingly as social constructs produced as a result of political, cultural and socioeconomic pressures. The article also comments then that they are not merely sites for knowledge retrieval. It argues that free and open access is vital for those challenging power. It also describes some of the unwanted results of the knowledge economy.  The author finally argues the importance for context to be correctly applied to archives.