History sways museum decision

Buddy Mikaere says the Cliff Road museum site is Tauranga’s most important historical site.

The City Transformation Committee's decision to opt for a new museum on Tauranga's Cliff Road was swayed by the history of the site itself, which has the full support of tangata whenua.

Cliff Road was the site of the Otamataha Pa – a pre-European settlement extending from the Mission Cemetery south to the redoubt.

'That site represents the beginning of contact between Maori and Pakeha in Tauranga,” says non-voting committee member Buddy Mikaere, speaking after a meeting earlier this week.

'Historically, it's probably the most important site there. Having a museum there just makes sense. I think people are calling it the historic precinct, because you have got the Mission Cemetery which is on part of the old pa site.

'Down one end you have got The Elms and you have got the Monmouth Redoubt - that whole area is more or less Tauranga's beginnings, from a Pakeha perspective and from a Maori perspective as well.

'Otamataha was one of the most important pa sites in Tauranga right from the very first arrival of Maori.

'I know some people have expressed some concerns that it is a battle site and part of the historic record shows that hundreds of people were killed there in 1828, but we have ways of dealing with that.”

The committee's recommendation is for council finance to be capped at $15 million towards the construction, with another $5.65 million going towards access upgrades, traffic flow and parking.

This reduces the ratepayer contribution to 37.1 per cent of the total estimated costs of $50 million.

The recommendation also directs council staff to investigate the roles, responsibilities and membership of a potential Museum Advisory Group to advise on matters related to the development of the museum.

These would include the value management, design and planning processes.

'Although we have got professional people advising on external funding, I don't believe they have sufficient knowledge of the local economy to be able to identify potential funders in our community like this,” says Buddy.

'There's a big number of philanthropists in Tauranga and I would have liked to have seen that component added to it as well.

'It would give people like me a vehicle to approach all of the Maori trusts and the iwi organisations. This about our history too. Maybe we need to look at sticking our hands in our pockets.”

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7 comments

Museum

Posted on 10-12-2017 13:35 | By Happyday

What on earth is the TCC trying to do to the people of this city, bankrupt us all? There will be many, many people on low incomes who will be rated out of their homes, whether they are home owners or renting as they will just not have the finances to meet the demands from TCC. And why? Because of all the "nice to haves" that this council is foisting on us. And they have the cheek to congratulate the staff for reducing the rates for next year from 20% to 9.7%, followed by 8.1% and 9.6% the following two years, compounding, don't forget. It should be criminal. Anyone want to organize a rates revolt?


TCC madness

Posted on 11-12-2017 10:33 | By Captain Sensible

What part of the 80:20 ratio against this farce do TCC not understand?


@ Happyday

Posted on 11-12-2017 10:43 | By MISS ADVENTURE

That would appear to be the unsaid mission!


Museum Advisory Group

Posted on 11-12-2017 11:05 | By Maryfaith

Another group with it's snout in the trough! 80% of the people in Tauranga are against the museum and have been 'advising', free - for years!! As for Buddy who is asking for a 'vehicle' to approach the Maori trusts and iwi organisations - I 'll be first in line to contribute to the cost of a bulldozer!


Bones

Posted on 11-12-2017 12:14 | By Told you

Im surprised that the local Maori are allowing this museum to be built over graves. Normally when bones are discovered everything grinds to a halt while extensive investigation begins.Why the difference in this case?


Still waiting

Posted on 12-12-2017 15:07 | By Christine1965

for an answer as to where all the city workers that are currently parked in Cliff Rd carpark are going to park???? I park there 5 days per week as I have no public transport option. As do many others.


Told you

Posted on 17-12-2017 15:24 | By overit

Precisely. Imagine the cost blow out, fiddling around up there. This TCC are a dozy lot.


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