Building Capacity in the South West Pacific - The Norfolk Island Maritime Archaeological Association

The Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy administers the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and the National Historic Shipwrecks Program. This Program enables the Department to work with the States, the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island to protect historic shipwrecks.
With the wealth of maritime history on Norfolk Island and the strong associations with Pitcairn Island, the potential for involving the broader community in documenting and protecting Norfolk Island's wonderful maritime heritage is significant. In 2010, at the request of the Norfolk Island Delegate, the first in a series of community focussed capacity building activities in maritime archaeology was conducted on the island. These activities resulted in the creation of the Norfolk Island Maritime Archaeological Association (NIMAA), Australia's newest maritime archaeology association.
This paper briefly outlines the history of maritime archaeological associations in Australia and their engagement with management agencies. As a case study for other small island communities, the paper highlights some of the activities of NIMAA since its creation, issues faced for participants and the management agency and the potential for NIMAA into the future.