After a wait of 15 months, a new director for the Dunedin Public Art Gallery has finally been announced.
Te Papa senior art curator Elizabeth Caldwell (48), of Wellington, will begin in March.
"I am delighted to be given the opportunity," she said.
"The gallery has a great reputation and enjoys fantastic support from the council and the community," she said.
Ms Caldwell has previously worked for the Creative New Zealand Arts Council and the Robert McDougall Art Gallery in Christchurch.
She has an MA (Hons) from Canterbury University and a post graduate diploma in Art Curatorial Studies from the University of Melbourne.
She replaces Priscilla Pitts, who resigned from the position in June 2007 to join the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in September.
Ms Pitts was also director of the Otago Settlers Museum, but a consultant's report recommended the museum and the art gallery now have separate directors.
The recommendations in the report, compiled by former Auckland War Memorial Museum director Dr Rodney Wilson, was finalised by council in July, adding to the delay in appointing a successor, Dunedin City Council community life general manager Graeme Hall said.
Despite the delay, Mr Hall said the city has got the right person for the job, with Ms Caldwell beating 13 other applicants for the position.
"She has a huge understanding of the art world and has very good experience in a number of institutions."
A decision on the new director for the Otago Settlers Museum could be expected early next week, he said.
