Ken Gorbey

Kenneth Coulton Gorbey (born 1942) is a New Zealand museum director and consultant. He has designed and created exhibitions at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the Jewish Museum Berlin.

Early life Gorbey was born in 1942 and grew up in Maungatautari. He studied at the University of Auckland where he graduated with a Master of Arts degree in archaeology.

From 1971 to 1983, he was director of the Waikato Museum in Hamilton. He held that position for 15 years. His vision was to create a museum that did not concentrate solely on the Holocaust, but told Jewish history using storytelling and as "magical theatre". To this end he hired his colleague from Te Papa, writer Nigel Cox, to work with him.

Honours and awards In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gorbey was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to museums.

Selected works