The Cliff Road site for a future Tauranga museum is endorsed by the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust.
The trust is now fronting the Tauranga City Council for its side of the agreement – $100,000 for resource consent costs.
The council's agreement is crucial for the project. Without a consented site, the museum trust won't be able to raise the $6 million required to start building.
The council agreed in May 2010 that it will contribute a fully consented Cliff Road site for the museum and that a resource consent budget be considered for inclusion in the 2012/2022 Ten Year Plan.
At Thursday's Ten Year Plan meeting, councillors were leery about committing the money without giving staff a chance to scrutinise the museum trust's business plan.
With a bit of political sleight of hand they have agreed to include the $100,000 in the draft ten year plan, which gives everyone time to examine the trust's business plan before the Ten Year Plan is ratified in November.
It was an agreement that brought the fiscally concerned councillors onside, leaving Murray Guy the only councillor to vote against it.
'It's a good starting block,” says Trust chair Vanessa Hamm.
'They agreed to put the finding in there but we will have to still come back to them to say we now want that funding.
'The next step really for us is to be developing the business case and developing and implementing a funding strategy, by which I mean getting some funders. We need to get some capital funders together.
'At the moment we have nothing. To get funders to commit to a museum we have to have something and so these first commitments from council – that's why I describe them as starting blocks.”
Trust member John Coster says many of their potential funding sources are not able to donate unless the museum trust has a consented site.
17 comments
Sorry, but...
Posted on 16-09-2011 09:16 | By Writerman
I don't recall the people of Tauranga saying they wanted a museum up on Cliff Rd (or anywhere else for that matter). In fact at the last council elections a lot of councillors lost their seats over proposals for a museum. Once again the tail is wagging the dog. The only thing we need a museum for is so we can have somewhere to put our frozen in time councillors who haven't caught up with their constituents yet!
THE VULTURES HAVE LANDED!!!
Posted on 16-09-2011 12:50 | By PLONKER
Look out folks they are landing in mass and so hope to swamp the TCC ops I mean Ratepayers with all there bills for this lot. So what happened to "Community funded"? I am sure that is meant to be different to "ratepayer funded"? If they can not raise a $100,000 then there is no hope of find the $30 million odd to build it, and who actually wants it anyway? Time for a referendum on the sanity of TCC Councillors, and the inmhabitants in the immediate vacinity if they endorse this lot of %&*&^%&^%^ !!!
Half a BILLION dollar debt...
Posted on 16-09-2011 13:16 | By SpeakUp
...and these megalomaniacs envisage a new museum? Too right, Writerman, they DO NOT HAVE A MANDATE for such irresponsible spendthrift. But that's what you get when councilors run the show that haven't got the faintest idea about compounding debt, about global monetary systems and about economic dynamics. On top of that, they show ruthlessness towards the next generation that is sheer thievery. Wake up Tauranga before you and your children end up as debt slaves. We need more prudent representatives like Murray Guy and Cath Stewart who LISTEN to ratepayers concerns and ACT accordingly. In fact, councillors ought to educate the populace about necessary prudence and not go on a delusional spending spree…with money we don't even have. -Citizens Monitoring Council-
And a bit more background info
Posted on 16-09-2011 13:57 | By SpeakUp
Trustees appointed to the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust... It says on the Council website that a Community Trust has been established to plan for and deliver a community led new museum. The community doesn't want a (second) museum. The project is driven by a group of self-promoting crony self-interests. Eight Trustees have been appointed to the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust. The new Trustees are: John Koning, Andrew Te Whaiti, John Coster, Jinty Rorke, Colin Bidois, Vanessa Hamm, Neil Te Kani, and Kelly Barclay. John Koning: He has a broad legal background with particular knowledge of Trust law and is a partner with Jackson Reeves Lawyers. He has links to Nga Potiki through his wife, and has wide networks in the Maori community. Andrew Te Whaiti: He has an extensive background in tourism and was Chief Executive of the Te Puia in Rotorua. He has a range of connections in the tourism industry and is currently a Board member of Tourism Bay of Plenty. John Coster: He was previously manager of the Museum Development, a bottomless pit. He has also background in museum planning and cultural heritage management. Jinty Rorke: Jinty has an in depth knowledge of Tauranga Moana history. She has also written various publications in respect of local history. She is also involved with the Elms Trust. Colin Bidois: Colin was, like John Coster, a member of the previous Museum Steering Group and has had a range of governance experience in respect of local government. He is currently lead negotiator for the Pirirakan hapu in respect of raupatu claims. He has Ngati Ranginui affiliations and chaired the Iwi Society for six years. Vanessa Hamm is partner at Holland Beckett. Neil Te Kani: Neil has affiliations to the three Tauranga Moana Iwi. He has a business background with a range of governance experience and undertakes extensive trustee roles. He also has financial skills. Neil sees tangata whenua to have a stake in the museum through governance and funding arrangements, and creating an environment for tangata whenua to contribute. His interest in becoming a trustee was formally supported by Ngati Ranginui Iwi Society Trust. Kelly Barclay Kelly has a business and education background and has considerable interest in the history of the area. He is currently a company director of a business with a turnover of around $1 million with several million dollars in assets. He is in the Trust to develop and maintain relationships particularly in respect of community engagement and maintaining key community support. Well, there is hardly any support but enormous opposition in the community. If the city had the money, well all would be noble and appreciated. But we are 500 000 000.00 in DEBT! How far from reality are these people? Also, the Trust looks pretty much Maori driven. If so, why don't they spend some of the millions of claims gains for their pet project? 'The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money” -Margaret Thatcher-
Museum
Posted on 16-09-2011 15:48 | By Glen Clova
I would like a Museum but not at any cost also run by a committee voted in by the ratepayers.This bunch look a bit suspect to me
More Money Down The Drain
Posted on 16-09-2011 15:51 | By Jitter
I fully agree with "Speakup". If local iwi are so keen on establishing a museum and holding governence of this then they should put their hands in their collective pockets and shell out a few million dollars of the Treaty claim money and become private investors. This one is not going to be funded by ratepayers, no way Hose ! As "Plonker" says, if there is already difficulty in finding the first $100,000 then there will be no way up to $30 million ($30 million ! the one planned for over the water was for $23 million. This one should be a lot less than that as it will be on solid ground.)will be forthcoming from private investors. This major project must be put to ratepayers as a referendum with one simple question. Do you want a multi million dollar museum in Tauranga - Yes or No.If it ever does go ahead it will end up like the Art Gallery (unless an entry fee is charged) running at a major annual loss which will have to be covered (like it or not) by ratepayers. I concur again with "Speakup" that this project is being driven by a small group of meglomaniacs who don't give a damn what it will cost the city in the long run as long as they get their way. TCC as a whole should be sacked and a Commissioner appointed to get Tauranga running on an even keel again so that the $500 million debt can be capped and a target set to steadily reduce it to stop dragging the city down.
Shift the museum to the Lakes Subdivision
Posted on 16-09-2011 17:00 | By the_fourth_estate
Well why not? There's tonnes of space and some quite nice walking tracks and of course its well provisioned for all the public toilets because the southern pipe line is connected out there waiting for someone to use it! C'mon Tauranga any town that has the gall to call itself a city without having a museum is just kidding around lets build it and then lets build a proper rugby stadium too !
Focus on City Wellbeing
Posted on 16-09-2011 17:53 | By Gregmilla
The only thing that this dynamic city needs at the moment is careful management. Difficult economic times are here right now - it's not the time to be funding museums, silly playgrounds on the waterfront or any other NON ESSENTIAL projects. Where has the common-sense gone?
Why the vote against ...
Posted on 17-09-2011 00:47 | By Murray.Guy
I voted against the resolution to provide $100,000.00 as a contribution to the Resource Consent required for the Cliff Rd site as the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust had not considered all options. No discussions had taken place with ANY existing entities with a historic focus, no meaningful consideration was given to alternative site options that I could ascertain. I had to request the report to be in the 'public arena', as like the scary business case, it was originally all in confidential. They refused to disclose their draft 'business case' which has a very significant ratepayer component. For the life of me I wonder if Council will ever get the message, "our community is not of a mind, financial or emotionally, to allow there wallets to be fleeced, their most treasured landscape (Cliff Rd) to be destroyed forever. To be a lone voice on this issue was a surprise.
Another dumb idea
Posted on 17-09-2011 09:19 | By Openknee8ted
Put the museum in the grounds of the Elms. Make use of the sections that council brought and gifted to the Elms. Re zone the land on cliff road and sell it to reduce debt. With views like that it must be worth a fortune, make a nice hotel site.
WE HAD A MUSEUM !
Posted on 17-09-2011 10:48 | By PLONKER
The Kestrel, that was about as best an excuse of a museum as anyone needed. All anyone wanted to do with that was burn it to the waterline and hope that it then sank out of sight.
DUMB DUMBER DUMBEST ...
Posted on 17-09-2011 11:09 | By Secret Squirrel
The Trust completely lacks any objectivity as they are all one-eyed Muesum supporters, of course they are going to "support" it byt putting the hand out to all and sundry. The fact is clearly stated above that "At the moment we have nothing ..." that is the way it should stay, of course $6m will not be enough to build it, the business plan will be hidden from anyone objective, and there will need to be some $20-30m invested to earn an income of $2m to even look like paying some of the bills.
MUSEUM MONKEY BUSINESS, 2011 STYLE
Posted on 17-09-2011 15:31 | By Investigator
I still was surprised, concerned, taken-aback - all of these when I recently came across an old pamphlet (circa 2007) at the Library on the proposed Tauranga City Museum. Let's look at the history of the Museum then; In 2007 the public, both residents and ratepayers, overwhelmingly sent a message to elected members on Council they didn't want a ‘state of the art' Museum over the water or on prime land. Council, as a result of the 2007 Election then immediately with indecent haste, changed direction through CEO Town and Mayor Crosby setting up a Museum Committee/Trust (?). Stealthfully and without any public scrutiny these pro-Museumites have been moving down the track with the Museum project so in effect it will be a fait accompli before anyone knows anything much about it. The public will only see what Ms. Hamm and her cohorts want them to see!! Despite public outrage, ratepayers will be lumbered with something, although we as ratepayers said we don't want an expensive ‘state of the art' Museum on prime land at Cliff Road land worth $10 million with Museum building costs of $20 million and that's conservative. We only hear from these turkeys when they want funding. Ratepayers will be paying the piper despite lip service by Council, stating it is rationalising its spending and tightening its belt. It is clear Council intend to meet all operational costs which TCC already admit will be half the Library costs so that's $4 million p.a. or $50 p.a. for each and every ratepayer. I would double that amount on the assumption TCC don't get involved with the Museum construction and if TCC do, costs will go AWOL. Everything produced is misleading and clearly we are going to have a Museum of the type that revisits and rewrites NZ History. Is this what the long suffering Tauranga public want or are expecting? TCC ratepayers will meet operating costs of between $4 - 8 million, will provide prime Council land at Cliff Road worth $10 million and probably be involved with overpriced construction costs either through Council and/or the Community money pit, A.K.A. TECT of around $20 - 30 million. Nice one, Council, Councillors and zealots!! FITH & WOFTAM
MASSA KISSED THAT ONE
Posted on 17-09-2011 16:57 | By MASSA KISSED
Looks like "LEMONS" are in vogue and some this decade with a raft of not NEEDED, over priced, expensive, and completely pointless obstacls to ones perfectly good view around the bay. All we will have to look forward to is a huge amount of bills each and every year as these wofflers continue onward ... for anyone else to pay.
MAD HATTERS AND GREEDY MONSTERS
Posted on 18-09-2011 16:28 | By PLONKER
The only good thing about the "CLIFF" location is what we all know about that ... when you are at the top of the cliff, the next stop thereafter is .... you guessed it for sure I am sure.
THE CITY IS BROKE AND THE
Posted on 18-09-2011 20:00 | By WIDOWMAKER
The torture of ratepayers continues with a RORT after RORT brought to bare on the unsuspecting, peaceful in life caring folk of Tauranga (otherwise known with Council Chambers as "The Turkeys"). From the punishment being dished out constantly here. We have TECT Arena, Mount Greens, Baypark and more to date, now we have coming to a place near you: Mount Hot Pools, Strand upgrade and a repeat edition of the Museum (disguised as not floating but perched on a cliff ...). The 2007 election made it clear to these idiots that they will lose votes to try this move then, now there still is no money and they are at it again. Why do they keep doing this!!! Do they have such a short memeory, do they care, do they want to care ....
RORT-FEST
Posted on 20-09-2011 18:26 | By PLONKER
More debt, more mortgages, more losses, more staff, more wages, more debt ... the never-ending circle created by TCC to persecute the ratepayers of tauranga.
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