A museum in Tauranga is moving closer to becoming a reality.
The Tauranga Moana Museum Trust has launched a new website where people can register and be informed of developments.
In January, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges called for local councils and corporates to apply to a second round of Government funding announced by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.
'Since opening last year this multi-million dollar [Regional Cultural Heritage] fund for capital projects has championed some tremendous projects in the regions,” says Maggie, 'with $13.8 million going to Hamilton, Whanganui, Nelson, Whakatāne and Gore initiatives.”
The Tauranga Moana Museum Trust is looking forward to working closely with the Tauranga City Transformation Committee to assist in developing a detailed business case for a museum.
If approved this will lead to inclusion of the museum project in the 2018 Long Term Plan and under construction by 2020.
'This is an amazing opportunity to create a cultural economy that uses its rich history and lifestyle to create jobs and bring visitors into the region,” says Trust co-chair Dr Kelly Barclay.
'The Trust is keen to see a modern, dynamic, internationally recognised centre that brings people to Tauranga. This would provide a rich resource for locals to learn about and celebrate their history, environment and lifestyle.
'Cities such as New Plymouth are proving that the cultural economy can bring broad community benefits, people and money into the region.”
The success of the project ultimately depends on broad community support and the Trust hopes that a wide range of different groups will come on board.
28 comments
Good Luck,
Posted on 17-02-2017 11:55 | By R. Bell
long overdue.
How ABOUT ask residents, 'What & Where', and a bit of clarity, wipe away the spin
Posted on 17-02-2017 12:40 | By Murray.Guy
Since opening last year this multi-million dollar [Regional Cultural Heritage] fund for capital projects has championed some tremendous projects in the regions, says Maggie, with $13.8 million going to Hamilton, Whanganui, Nelson, Whakatne and Gore initiatives. - Do NOT be misled, this is spin for the gullible. The capital cost of a museum is just a small part of the actual cost to the community and it's ratepayers. Just as with the Art Gallery, the cricket lights, the rugby field, the actual and real impact is the ratepayer subsidy in perpetuity, for ever and constantly increasing. As a guide we can assume no less than 10% of the capital cost will be required to be funded by ratepayers every year to cover 'OPEX' (operational expenditure). Trinkets offered by external agencies and others are just that, a trap for the greedy, the easily mis-led.
Surely the council wouldn't ignore the majority?
Posted on 17-02-2017 13:06 | By Tga local
Why does the council continue to ignore the majority of ratepayers regarding the museum? The argument that we should follow New Plymouth is correct, in some options. Their walkway / cycleway along the waterfront from the city to Bell Block is internationally recognized, and does attract tourists, who eat at the cafes and stay in the local motels and add to the local economy. The museum cost the ratepayers $3.3 million last year. You need to sell a lot of coffee to pay that back. Why doesn't SunLive run a survey to see which is the preferred option?
waste of money
Posted on 17-02-2017 13:21 | By Dino
this will not bring more people to Tauranga, and is a total waste of money when we have way more pressing needs in our community. How is a museum going to help feed kids or help educate parents about healthy food choices, and making sure kids have a good breakfast before going off the school....priorities people...
Museum
Posted on 17-02-2017 13:48 | By roseh
Some people are determind for this to happen and I'm ok about that as long as not one cent of my rates go towards paying for it Things are tough enough now.It's ok for the wealthy to go on.
Great to Hear
Posted on 17-02-2017 15:24 | By carpedeum
Well done to the Government to recognise that "man does not live by bread alone" A modern Regional Museum in Tauranga displaying the history of both Maori and European settlers here is so long overdue. Would love to have a preview of the items being held in storeage in readiness for this building.Perhaps Sunlive could make that a project- tabulating a portion each week for the public to know?
Like a dog in a manger
Posted on 17-02-2017 15:45 | By The Tomahawk Kid
Tauranga could have had a museum long ago if council would release their grip on the treasures and allow private enterprise or some willing entrepreneur to display them in a business venture and at NO COST or responsibility to the ratepayers. It seems that they would rather hoard them unseen than allow somebody else to display them, so its not about how important it is for them to be seen its about council not wanting somebody else to do it.
Same old same old
Posted on 17-02-2017 16:51 | By Taffy
Six months since the election and the spending is starting.Have you noticed the speed at which tenders are being called to demolish the council building,they can,t get it done quick enough.Now we have all these projects that the majority of ratepayers do not want to be lumbered with all the costs in their rates.so far TCC propose 3.8% where will it end. If this so called museum is going to bring untold visitors how the hell are they going to navigate the city ,the traffic is unreal at present and what did we just get put forward some hair brain band aid scheme to move the traffic snarl up further down 15th Ave.Looks like the old adage jump from the frying pan into the fire.
no museum
Posted on 17-02-2017 16:59 | By dumbkof2
i will be deducting from my rates any money that would go to the museum. i think 90% of ratepayers would do the same thing
The Western BOP
Posted on 17-02-2017 17:05 | By R1Squid
Population bulks out every summer and it is not because we have a museum.For those that want it, let them pay. They may even charge admission to cover costs.As a Rate Payer I don't want it. Seen one museum, you've seen the lot. As we don't have an international airport, most tourists arrive here after visiting Wellington or Auckland and both City's have very good museums.
No spin in the truth.
Posted on 17-02-2017 17:10 | By R. Bell
All sections of local government are duty bound to cater to the needs of ALL, not just those who feel they are more important because they pay rates. Rates are payment for the privilege of shared community.Museums are tourist attraction, educational tool, recreational attraction for locals etc. Private enterprise is not an option. The link to other museums, national and international brings the very worldly education so lacking in the usual detractors. Robin Bell.
golly gosh
Posted on 17-02-2017 18:16 | By old trucker
Agree with all below, could SUNLIVE make enquiries about where this lot of stuff is being held,(DOES someone in TCC have interest in collecting rent from this STORAGE.(its alleged that it COSTS $thousands a year to store it) what a waste,why not down HISTERICAL VILLAGE surely it wont take up that much space,(HANG ON) they want all the BAUBLES) like a $MILLION roof on shed at mount, NO ONE LISTENS in TCC, except their BLOATED PAY PACKETS,my thoughts ONLY,No1 GREAT NEWS,10-4 out,
The Not Wanted Museum
Posted on 17-02-2017 22:21 | By sangrae
Agree with Tga Local, come on Sun Live run a poll for every one to have a say both here and in your weekly paper then the Council will see what the people want.
@Dino
Posted on 18-02-2017 06:11 | By BennyBenson
I'm not pro the museum but it's not up to the local council using rate payers funds to feed kids or educate parents about healthy eating.
@carpedeum
Posted on 18-02-2017 08:07 | By astex
The reason we don't see a list of things in starage is probably that there is nothing of significance there. The pro-museum people keep going on about the success of New Plymouth's museum when, in fact, it drains ratepayers of millions of dollars every year. Oh, and it's a similar situation as here. The people of New Plymouth didn't want the darn thing but the council went ahead anyway. Ring a bell?
Don't miss this opportunity,
Posted on 18-02-2017 09:41 | By R. Bell
to provide a place to care for and preserve objects of our shared heritage. To provide a place for interactive, hands on displays to educate our children. A place that can be TRUSTED to provide ACCURATE information on what is now a national conversation on our shared history, free of the bias and vested interest so common among those below, who oppose everything. We owe it to future generations, to help them overcome ignorance and the results of inadequate guidance. Robin Bell.
Cultural Heritage in Storage
Posted on 18-02-2017 14:55 | By Mackka
Whose culture? A group of prominent Greenies and a few Maori voices are making themselves heard above the huge majority who have no interest in visiting, or having their ratepayer money sunk into the bottomless well labelled "Museum"! I challenge anyone of these people to tell us what percentage of this treasure is classified 'Maori' and what percentage classified as "European" heritage? Probably 80% the former and 20% if lucky, of the latter.There are any number of museums in close proximity - all with the same old "Indigenous" peoples stuff. The Art Gallery has a huge 'unused' bottom floor - pack the really 'important' (to whom?) in there - or stick it on top of or underneath the proposed, ridiculous 'I'site roof! Add three walls to the roof and you have your museum attached to the 'I'site
Oh Robin....
Posted on 18-02-2017 23:23 | By groutby
I was so hoping you may have been a voice in the wilderness for rationality....not so. Realistically , we know that it will be "hijacked" as usual, so if anyone else can be truthful we know it will be just more one sided commentary on "Maori Affairs" don't we? (truth please).. I have said in the past,if "we" want such an item, please fund it and make your point without once again relying on the public purse to upkeep your desires...no problem with that..is your money where your mouth is?.bet not....
The Public Purse,
Posted on 21-02-2017 08:38 | By R. Bell
is just that groutby. PUBLIC. What that means is it caters to all, not just those who constantly rattle on about there own self interest. Difficult job, but that's what leadership is all about. I make my contribution through my rates like everyone else, happy to pay more IF its used to improve society across the board, a museum would do just that. Robin Bell.
It's simple really.
Posted on 09-03-2017 14:11 | By morepork
Despite the fierce positions displayed in the posts here, the issue is not about whether Tauranga SHOULD have a museum or not. Robin's point re the public purse is fair and I too have no problem with funds I have contributed to, being used for purposes I wouldn't personally benefit from; that's part of living in a community. (Don't like it; go live somewhere else...) Whether we SHOULD have a museum or not is, obviously, a matter of opinion and the latest poll on Sun Live suggests that the majority opinion is: we don't need it. The real issue is whether we can AFFORD a museum, at this time. It isn't just the cost of building it, it is the ongoing costs of maintaining it and purchasing into the collection for it. If there was no debt millstone and TCC were flush, nobody would be objecting. That's NOT the cas
More rates?
Posted on 11-03-2017 14:04 | By Roadkill
Perhaps those who want a Museum should have a tag placed on their properties and that tag means that the annual cost/losses that it causes will be paid by these persons. The public have in general terms made there view very clear, polls over the years have ranged from 65-85% against it. The results are consistently the same.
Its never simple,
Posted on 12-03-2017 11:21 | By R. Bell
morepork. Fear is what often drives opinion, recent events in the U.S. prove polls to be unreliable. For many the" simple" fact is they will never approve of what they see as risky investment. Is a museum ( in the modern context) risky? If planned and managed in a professional and business like manner, there is absolutely no reason it should fail to meet the requirements of ratepayers in general. If we all waited until we are flush, I suggest a vast majority would never "afford" anything, The world no longer works that way. Perhaps it should, but it doesn't. Robin Bell.
@R. Bell
Posted on 12-03-2017 14:53 | By morepork
I cede your point that if we ALWAYS wait until we are flush. little would actually be achieved. However, if the resources we DO have are properly managed, we shouldn't be in a state where we can't afford to do anything. The FACT is that the MAJORITY of people in Tauranga DON'T want a museum at this time. Why would you ignore that? The people who DO want a museum need to persuade the ones who don't, and so far, they haven't managed to do that. (It's called "Democratic process"...) I stand by the simple FACT: "Most people don't want it, and even if they did, we can't REALLY afford the costs (startup and ongoing) for it." In time, that could change, but right now that's how it is...
Democratic process
Posted on 12-03-2017 16:46 | By R. Bell
morepork, is certainly important. Our representatives have a legal responsibility to consider all points of view, including those of, what you claim ( without proof ) are a minority. They need to weigh all aspects of such a major development. You simply cannot have representative democracy, without trust and faith in those elected, something already missing among the anarchic commentors below. Was it ever there? I doubt it. As for convincing your majority, not part of my calling, but I support a Museum in the hope it helps others. Robin Bell.
@R.Bell
Posted on 13-03-2017 18:16 | By morepork
Robin, you should know by now that I don't just make things up or invent evidence. I DO homework, and where something is purely a matter of opinion, I recognize that. In this case you say I have an unsupported statement ("without proof") that "the majority of people DON'T want a museum". Sunlive have just run such a survey and 63% do NOT want a museum. That would be a majority. While that alone does not prove the case, there are other factors which concur with this. Look at the comments here, talk to people over dinner or in a social environment and see what they think... All of the "indicators" reflect the case as I stated it. The general consensus is that we don't need or want a museum at this time. Ignoring that, is simply undemocratic.
Sorry morepork,
Posted on 14-03-2017 08:48 | By R. Bell
general consensus it ain't. like most such polls the important figure is "how many answered the poll" what % of our population do they represent? For instance, City Council recently called for submissions on this issue, a clear majority were for a continuation of the process. I guess you could say one cancels out the other, but of course it doesn't, neither are complete. As for the comments here being an indicator, you must be pulling my leg, surely. Robin Bell.
Real Democratic process
Posted on 17-03-2017 02:40 | By Roadkill
Is where the majority vote carries the day, by that I mean the public not Councilors and the minority moaners.
Roadkill,
Posted on 18-03-2017 09:19 | By R. Bell
You seem to dismiss the poll taken by Simon Bridges'team in Feb last year. That poll found 72% in favour, take your pick. Robin Bell.
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