Rōpū kohinga can work with you to create trusted technology solutions for your physical and digital collections. If you’ve got ideas for managing your collection, or are seeking advice on a new or existing initiative, we welcome you to talk to our team.
Cultural heritage
Rōpū kohinga is a team at Catalyst that has spent 15+ years helping libraries, archives, and cultural institutions care for their collections. We're here to help you protect what matters for generations to come.
Helping you keep history, present
What you collect connects communities to their past and future. Technology should both honour the stories, knowledge, and taonga it holds, and empower those who look after it. Rōpū kohinga are committed to providing solutions that align with your values and goals. We will meet your community where you are, and partner to deliver a system that is accessible, sustainable, and adaptable.
Here to support you
Kaupapa Māori organisations
Catalyst is a non-Māori organisation on our own te ao Māori journey. We offer technology approaches that may use Māori data governance frameworks, or your chosen approach. We host systems where it's right for you and your data, and listen before building.
Start a conversationMuseums and galleries
Together, we’ll create digital experiences that excite your community partners and engage your visitors. We’ll utilise trusted, community-driven systems to showcase and preserve your collections for generations to come.
Contact usLibraries and archives
Whether your collection is small or large, serving hundreds or millions, we build upon proven software foundations and adapt to fit you. Our systems put the power in your hands - industry-compliant, independent, interopable, and highly configurable.
Start a conversationHistorical societies and heritage trusts
We believe technology should remove barriers to accessing heritage, amplifying preservation work. You can choose a system which connects systems and volunteers to a worldwide network, where they can build confidence from shared improvements and ideas.
Contact usSuccess stories
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust: Protecting taonga in Taranaki
Explore how we supported Te Kotahitanga o te Ātiawa Trust to future-proof their collection using Koha library management system.
Ia: the world's first Rainbow research portal
Auckland University of Technology launched the world’s first Rainbow and LGBTQIA+ research portal. We implemented a discovery layer called VuFind to harvest metadata from multiple systems, making vital research accessible to communities who need it.
University of Canterbury QuakeStudies
Digital asset management system, Islandora, was used to preserve community memories from the Canterbury earthquakes. Large amounts of content and media from various organisations representing heritage have been made accessible to all through this platform
Jessie Street National Women's Library: Honouring Australian stories
Explore why Koha library management system is the chosen platform for preserving Australian history and honouring stories of women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Kolovai Public Library: a real treasure for Tonga
We were proud to stand up the first public library in Tonga, using Koha as a tool to support and connect their community. Learn more about how world-class library technology can empower local Pacific communities.
210,000 records migrated for Archives Central
Archives Central have adopted next-generation digital asset management to replace outdated proprietary systems. Check out how modern tools are enabling better access and supporting staff to do their best work.
How we can help
Strategy & consultation
We’re experts in technology for collections. We want to help, with everything from digital preservation planning and metadata management, to data governance and business case support.
Collections, research & discovery software
We support open source library systems, digital repositories for asset management, curation, and preservation, platforms for unified discovery, and develop bespoke solutions.
Hosting solutions
In Aotearoa, Catalyst Cloud is a sovereign and secure hosting option for your data. We also support implementations that are self-hosted, or on another platform of your choice.
Implementation & migration
You’ll work with the same team throughout the implementation. Our people handle complex data migration, integration with other platforms, custom development and configuration.
Custom code & configurations
We bring specialised workflows to life through code. Our developers love to solve problems, and are experienced in third-party integrations, plugins, APIs, and global development frameworks.
Design & accessibility
We’ll build a visual design that reflects and engages your community. We offer dynamic and accessible web design, and guidance on creating pathways to WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.
Capability building
Our New Zealand-based team are here to support you. We facilitate bespoke training and regular workshops. We’ll share knowledge and resources to support your independence, giving you the tools to care for your collection while we handle everything else.
Working with us
We specialise in collections management for cultural heritage. With 15+ years of dedicated Koha experience and working across platforms like DSpace, VuFind and Islandora, we understand what generational preservation requires.
We match technology not just to collection requirements, but to the people maintaining the systems. We help you navigate open source communities and get the best from the software you choose. Your expertise is in your collections and communities - ours is in making technology serve that expertise.
