Whakatāne Mayor Tony Bonne says a $1.5 million grant towards the redevelopment of the Whakatāne Museum Research Centre, confirmed today by the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, the Hon. Maggie Barry, is a huge boost for the preservation of the region’s cultural heritage.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a more positive outcome for our $4.5 million Museum redevelopment project,” he says. “It’s fantastic that the Ministry of Culture and Heritage has recognised just how unique our collection is and that the Minister has committed such a substantial grant from the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund.
“The Whakatāne District Council has also set aside $1.5 million for the project in its Long Term Plan and, together with a $400,000 Lottery grant and a $103,000 contribution from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust, we now have more than $3.5 million of funding confirmed for this important community project. That means we can now push hard to close the funding gap and aim to get construction underway in early 2017.”
Mayor Bonne describes Te Kōputu – the Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre – as the ‘display case’ for the Museum, but stresses that it holds only a tiny fraction of the whole collection. “We have a nationally-significant collection of more than 700,000 items – comprising taonga Māori, photographs, rare books and an extensive collection of objects – which we must preserve and share so that our past can continue to inspire future generations. The current museum facility in Boon Street is limited by inadequate climate control and a lack of collections space and public facilities. The redevelopment will address those shortcomings and create a fit-for-purpose facility which will keep our irreplaceable taonga safe, and available to the community, for decades to come.”
The Council’s Museum and Arts team has a range of fundraising initiatives planned and is looking to engage businesses, organisations and individuals with an interest in culture and heritage to support the redevelopment. Key facets of the project include:
- The creation of a public research centre
- Viewing spaces for the community to access collections
- A multi-function education and community space
- Expanded collection and archives storage capacity
- Modern climate control capability
- Adequate office and workroom spaces for staff and volunteers to preserve collections
For information about the project and ways to get involved, go to the Whakatāne Museum website »
The Minister's media release is included below for more information.
Whakatane’s Museum and Research Centre has received a $1.5m Government grant for its major redevelopment project, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry announced today.
“I’m pleased to announce this major grant from the Regional Culture & Heritage Fund which will enable the Museum to display more of its impressive collections, redevelop and earthquake strengthen its building,” Ms Barry says.
“The museum’s extensive collections reflect the Bay of Plenty’s history from the 1860s onwards and include archaeological material, rare books and photographs – some 600,000 images and 100,000 objects in total.”
Highlights include two rare items connected to the voyages of James Cook - a Resolution & Adventure Medal and a tripot dating from his second journey to New Zealand in 1773.
There is also a substantial taonga Māori collection, with items from Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitīhī and Te Whakatōhea, and the internationally significant Te Kōhika Collection of prehistoric archaeological material.
“Currently just a small part of the collections are accessible at any one time and the public, including researchers, need better access to ensure they remain relevant and meaningful to them,” Ms Barry says.
The redevelopment will also see a new lift to improve accessibility, an education and teaching space, improved working areas for staff and energy-efficient climate control.
“I would like to acknowledge the work of local MP Hon Anne Tolley, who has been a major advocate and supporter for this important community project.”
Construction is due to start early in the New Year and is expected to take around 12 months to complete.
Whakatane Museum and Research Centre becomes the second recipient of funding from the newly reconfigured Regional Culture & Heritage Fund, following a grant to the Nelson School of Music announced earlier this month.
More information about the Regional Culture & Heritage Fund »