9 May 2023: museum options

Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Museum options item to go to Infrastructure and Environment Committee

Enquiry

Reporter sent the following to both Mayor Tapsell and the council organisation for response:

Am writing something up ahead of the council meeting tomorrow where the four options for the museum will be discussed and had some comment from RDRR chairman Reynold Macpherson for response:

Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers association chairman Reynold Macpherson said its members held diverse views on the museum.

“Some want it to go back to central government where it came from.

“Some see it as beautiful and iconic, and far more worthy of restoration than other pet projects because it could generate income.”

He said others saw the “escalating costs” and an inherited $300million debt as reasons for "mothballing it, holding rates rises down, stopping borrowing and achieving a surplus budget".

“Elected members would be wise to commission advice on all options from a licensed and experienced quantity surveyor and then consult ratepayers.”

Response

From Mayor Tapsell:

The projected cost for fully restoring the museum has risen drastically since the Council last consulted with the community in 2018.

With the rapid escalation of costs to restore Te Whare Taonga as a museum and the challenging financial context this council is operating in, it is timely and appropriate to provide our community with some options to consider.

No matter what option is progressed following community feedback, there will be a significant cost and as a council we need to understand how much of a priority this project is.

I look forward to some informed and robust discussions regarding these options tomorrow.

From Council organisation:

Elected members will be considering this matter at tomorrow’s [Wednesday 10 May] Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting.