Rotorua Museum is “very close” to funding its exhibition fit-out after a $2 million Government grant announced on Monday, Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive Andrew Moraes says.
By Mathew Nash of Local Democracy Reporting
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced the funding during a blessing and ceremony marking the completion of restoration and earthquake-strengthening work on the historic building that houses Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa.
While the $73.35m restoration is complete, exhibitions still need to be developed, built and installed before visitors can return.
In June, the council reported a $7.8m shortfall against a $9.51m exhibition development budget.
Moraes said completing the construction phase on time and under budget had freed up funding that could now be directed towards the exhibition fit-out.
“The $2m makes a pretty sizeable dent in what’s left,” he told Local Democracy Reporting.
“I think we are now very close.”
Updated financial details would be released in the coming weeks, giving a clearer picture of the remaining funding gap.
Moraes said the council had always viewed construction savings as a way to help fund the next stage of the project.
“We knew that every dollar we saved on the construction would help towards the exhibition because ultimately we want to be able to open the doors and welcome people back.
“And in order to do that, we need to have an exhibition.”
'Massive win' for council, community
The building was damaged in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. (Source: 1News)
The announcement came as iwi representatives, Government ministers, project partners and community leaders gathered to celebrate the end of restoration work to the Category 1 Heritage building at a ceremony on Monday.
The museum has been closed since November 2016 after earthquake safety concerns emerged following the Kaikōura earthquake.
Monday’s blessing, held in the historic Bath House building that houses the museum, formally marked the building’s transition from construction site back to a community asset after nearly two years of restoration work.
For Moraes, the milestone was a celebration and a recognition that work remained before the museum could reopen.
“It is a huge win for the council and a massive win for the community because the community expects council to deliver these things.”
He said restoring and strengthening the 120-year-old building had come with significant challenges, ranging from Rotorua’s geothermal environment and ground conditions to the demands of working within a heritage structure.
“Building on geothermal ground, an existing building, not the best geology, not full information about the building and also lots of heritage requirements to achieve.”
Moraes said Monday’s ceremony was also a chance to thank those involved in the project and acknowledge how far it had come.
“It’s important to celebrate today, thank the people that have worked on it and let the community know that we’re delivering on the promise.”
Jones said the latest contribution through the Regional Infrastructure Fund would help bring the museum “back to life”.
He praised the council’s “courage” in pursuing the reconstruction of a building that many had questioned whether it could, or should, be saved.
He said 120,000 visitors were expected to visit the museum each year.
Extra funding a 'sigh of relief'
Mayor Tania Tapsell described the extra $2m funding as “a sigh of relief” after efforts to secure enough money to complete the exhibition fit-out.
“It was like, ‘Yes, we are on. We are going to complete this, finish it and we look forward to opening the doors’.”
Tapsell said Government support had been critical to the project’s success and helped reduce the burden on local ratepayers.
“I honestly don’t think we would have been able to pay for it or progress without it.”
She said the ceremony was an emotional occasion for many involved in the project, particularly those who remembered the difficult decision to close the museum nearly a decade ago.
“It was very sad to have closed the doors not knowing if we’d ever be able to reopen them,” she said.
Tapsell said she was committed to an August 2028 opening date, although that target remains flexible, according to council staff.
More than 300 people worked on the restoration over 110 weeks.
It was co-funded by the Government ($31m), Rotorua Lakes Council ($15.5m), Rotorua Trust ($15m), Lottery Grants funding ($6.35m), Bay of Plenty Regional Council ($4.1m), J & J La Grouw: $1m, and New Zealand Community Trust ($400,000).
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
SHARE ME