25 Sept 2026: Rotorua Museum project
Media: TVNZ
Topic: Rotorua Museum project costs and funding
Enquiry
Regarding the upcoming blessing of the museum the reported requested interviews with Mayor Tapsell and CE Andrew Moraes and had the following questions:
Can you please tell me what the total building cost is so far and what it’s projected to cost by the time the project ends?
And has the remainder of the funding been secured?
A Herald article from Feb says “The $73.55m construction budget has been covered by a mix of funders such as central Government, Rotorua Trust, lottery funding, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and private citizens” and “Rotorua Lakes Council still short more than $8 million in exhibition funding” – are these lines still accurate?
Response
We provided the following information:
The reporter was informed that both the mayor and CE would be happy to be interviewed after the formalities on Monday.
The following information was provided:
Here is the construction funding information:
Construction Funding
- Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit: $22m
- RLC: $15.5m
- Rotorua Trust: $15m
- Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage: $9m
- Lotteries (Significant Project Fund): $6m
- BOPRC: $4.1m
- NZ Community Trust: $385,000
- Lotteries (Environment & Heritage Funding): $350,000
Total: $72.335m
We informed the reporter we would get back to them regarding the remainder of their enquiry.
