The latest attempts to push for Tauranga's very own museum have been dashed, with Tauranga City Council declining to spend $40,000 on a survey gauging residents' 'appetite” for the bid.
Councillors voted unanimously on the decision, as part of the Long Term Plan deliberations, in what would have been similar to the community survey in 2006.
Tauranga City councillor Gail McIntosh says if council ran the $40,000 survey it would yield similar results to the 2006 review. Photo: File.
The decision means Tauranga Moana Museum Trust's efforts to keep the project alive have taken a big hit. They were also seeking a $100,000 grant as part of efforts to keep the project alive.
Options in the report included providing $100,000 to assist in the development of a feasibility study and for project officer costs, approval of a $40,000 funding grant to the trust for the survey or the inclusion of $40,000 in the 2015/16 budget for council to undertake the survey.
It was recommended the final option be adopted by councillors as it was seen by council staff as a response to the trust's requests.
The survey would have given council a gauge on what community support there is for a museum, including whether ratepayers were prepared to pay for a large chunk of operating costs.
Councillor Steve Morris questions whether council would be prepared to pay the capital expenditure for a museum even if there was 'strong community support”.
He adds council would end up doing a disservice to the trustees if they went down this path.
'We need to be clear with them, thank them for their work and not string them along,” says Steve.
Councillor Gail McIntosh says there is no appetite for a museum among ratepayers, citing if the survey ran it would generate similar results as in 2006.
Back then 49 per cent of people supported the construction of a museum, while 30.8 per cent were not in favour and 19.6 per cent were undecided.
More than 80 per cent agreed that half of the construction funding should come from sources other than rates. The remaining 39.7 per cent believed no funding should come from ratepayers.
'People are in favour of a museum so long as they don't have to pay,” says Gail. 'We need to be open and honest about that.”
Councillor Bev Edlin agrees they should not string the trustees along, even though every city needed a museum.
'We need to get people working collaboratively for this city and not a pipe dream that may never come about,” says Bev.
'I think if we are honest with ourselves, we need to talk with The Elms about having a museum or the first stage of a museum.”
Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout agrees there isn't a strong desire for a museum, and encourages the trust to secure external funding for a feasibility study moving forward.
39 comments
OK Gail...
Posted on 03-06-2015 13:22 | By penguin
...now where are the facts to support your contention that a new survey would yield similar results to those of nearly nine years ago? Do you not realise that community opinion can change over a significant interval such as this? Fine to have the rhetoric - I challenge you for the FACTS!
What?
Posted on 03-06-2015 14:11 | By SonnyJim
No museum? Only 49% of residents want a museum? What planet are these councilors on? You will never get 60% support because of the don't care faction. Why should people place artifacts in council care when there is no political will to display our heritage. If half of Tauranga wants a museum - then build it. If a politician received 49% in the polls, they would claim the people have spoken and declare it a landslide win! The only fair thing to do now is for the Council, having failed to build a museum, is to return all the material in storage back to the original owners and abandon the concept altogether.
Rather have....
Posted on 03-06-2015 15:02 | By marygold
Good grief. Don't worry about a museum. A small public toilet at Papamoa East Shopping Centre would be way better use of Council money. How many "accidents" does it take before we get one out there?
For once
Posted on 03-06-2015 15:11 | By What?
TCC has done the right thing. Museums everywhere are doing it hard because of lack of funding. If they put a door price on, they get even fewer visitors, so are even less likely to get funded. If people really want a museum, they'll pay for it. But they won't, so they don't.
Ratepayers are wary
Posted on 03-06-2015 15:22 | By Annalist
I think the ratepayers are wary of a museum because of the huge costs they will inevitably have to pay. Ratepayers in the past went along with the idea of an art gallery on the basis of a one-off contribution of one million dollars. That seemed to get forgotten very quickly and now we're up for nearly a million every year. Sadly that sort of thing leaves me not supporting a museum.
SHUT IT DOWN NOW
Posted on 03-06-2015 15:35 | By CONDOR
Stop flapping Penguin, Gail is right but she is more right than she thinks Last survey was 2006 and in 2007 as a backlash most of Council wiped out by electors that did not want a grandiose museum. Nothing has changed 80 to 90% of Tauranga citizens still don't want a museum.Just put it to a binding referendum at 2016 local elections (1) do you want any museum(2)do you want a TCC ratepayer funded and lets get rid of this nonsense once and for all and stop the carping.
Rastus
Posted on 03-06-2015 15:46 | By rastus
Once again both the council and commentators are way behind just as they were with the library issue. One can read millions of books on line - many of them at no cost - you can look at the most amazing artifacts from all over the world at home on your computer and the speed of technology will have all those objects which are already backed up with good spoken or written facts complimenting the display in 3D - its happening now and will only be a matter of time (well before a museum could be built)
ratepayers were prepared to pay ?
Posted on 03-06-2015 16:00 | By YOGI BEAR
So this was all about being "community funded", guess that has all gone by the way now. Reality of the "nice to haves" is that they cost someone else, normally that means TCC ratepayers are the soft target to sucker into paying. Every other handout organisation has rules, criteria, transparency, accountability but not TCC, anything goes once you have the hook into the place. The Art Gallery is a excellent example of how the leeching system works.
You are so wrong!
Posted on 03-06-2015 16:18 | By dstewart
This decision shows just how much out of the touch this council is. This must be the only city that has no way of telling the local history. All over the world, visitors first ask where is the museum? Our children deserve a museum to appreciate what has come before. How can we attract families and businesses to this area where culture is so underrated by its elected representatives. Who are they representing? Have we a council of philistines?
Vultures continue to circle
Posted on 03-06-2015 16:49 | By YOGI BEAR
At TCC, unless this is kicked for touch once and for all then the usual bunch of suspects will keep on coming back for more and ever growing handouts from TCC simply because they are a simple and easy touch for money and no accountability. While you are at it Councillors, how about emptying out the Council funded "tip/dump" building contents at Newton road to the Maleme Street dump and consolidate all of the rubbish in one place.
I don't want to pay either, BUT ..
Posted on 03-06-2015 17:13 | By Murray.Guy
I don't want to pay either, BUT .. that'd because what has been offered I haven't agreed with. I don't want an iconic 'museum on a pier', on Cliff Rd or anywhere else UNTIL such time as we kick these big spending cultural shadow dwellers into the sea and in a meaningful way, attempt to address our museum needs that isn't predetermined. There has NEVER been a genuine community consultation opportunity starting from a blank sheet. The Arts, Culture and Historic interests in our city are fragmented and directionless. Walk in to almost ANY home and you will find a display cabinet or shelf of memorabilia, things and persons past. A city has the same. We have existing opportunities to display with pride those items that tell of our past. This isn't about vibrancy or tourists, it's about us!
How right
Posted on 03-06-2015 17:53 | By dstewart
For once I am in agreement with Murray Guy.As a long time resident of the city I know that a museum is about us! My Wellington grandchildren come to stay and say "can we go to the museum"? A museum is part of their life and their education.
First and formost
Posted on 03-06-2015 18:11 | By How about this view!
All of the "I want a museum" brigade. What are you willing to give up OR are we going to fund EVERY idea that is blithely put to council?? I'm sick and tired of ever increasing rates demands because of STUPID IDEAS! And those of you out there with fixed incomes, would you rather look at pretty flowers, take up cycling once or twice a month, stare blankly at a wall covered in what some consider ART or stroll down a blocked off road watching other people eating??? Actually the list of absurdity can surely be added to by others. Whilst this nonsense is going on, are we really getting value for our rates dollar?? Rather than initiating USER-PAYS we still keep coming back to RATE-PAYER PAYS, thanks for the free money!
What planet are people on?
Posted on 03-06-2015 18:53 | By Kenworthlogger
People like dstewart and penguin need to put their money where their mouth is and spend their own money with private museums like clasic flyers museum. Councils job is to provied infrastructure not entertainment.
I will do a deal
Posted on 03-06-2015 19:28 | By astex
I will do a deal with those that keep on about the museum. You raise half of the cost FIRST plus half the ongoing costs and I will support it. And don't even mention the NP museum that apparently costs around 8% of the rates collected.
CONDOR
Posted on 03-06-2015 21:27 | By penguin
Same question for you. Where are the FACTS to back up your assertions? It's easy to toss personal assumptions around - harder to produce valid facts, eh?
? Loyalties ?
Posted on 03-06-2015 21:36 | By kz 1
Museum looses out because of cost ? So much hoo haa when there have been thousands od dollars spent on the two "monstrosseties" at the entrance to Papamoa near the new Highway - What and when did they do anything for us or " Our Heritage?"
CONDOR
Posted on 04-06-2015 10:00 | By penguin
Same question for you. Where are the FACTS to back up your assertions? It's easy to toss personal assumptions around - harder to produce valid facts, eh?
Shortsighted comments
Posted on 04-06-2015 14:06 | By Lizzie Bennet
It is time Tauranga grew up and realised it is a city not a small town. It is sad and shortsighted to procrastinate on the building of a museum, we have a fantastic heritage and the pain of spending money for a fantastic cultural asset would be well worth it down the line. There is more to life than toilets and personally I am sick of living in a cultural desert.
dstuart
Posted on 04-06-2015 14:54 | By Kenworthlogger
Next time you grandchildren come up from Wellington and ask to be taken to a museum.go tale them to the Classic Flyers museum. Oh hang on a minut. You would have to pay. Thats probably why your keen for a everone else pays for it Tauranga museum...
Disapointing
Posted on 04-06-2015 15:40 | By expatAucklander
As soon as the city seems to get a little bit progressive the council panders to the small thinkers.
PAPAMOA LONG OVERDUE INTERESTS COME FIRST.
Posted on 04-06-2015 15:45 | By Watcher 1
GOOD ON YOU GAIL. For those interested in a Museum, go out and raise the funds and pay for the high running costs yourselves and don't expect every ratepayer to help you out. Take a leaf out of what Classic Flyers have acheived with building and running their own Museum. More important issues for Council are funding a 2 lane pathway and a cycleway from Sandhurst Drive to Papamoa East that does NOT flood out after even in the lightest shower of rain that reduces the existing two lanes to only one. Where is a safe cycle lane for children and adults to safely cycle alongside the Papamoa Beach Road? Papamoa cycle safety please before the luxury cycleway to Omokoroa.
Common Sense Prevails :)
Posted on 04-06-2015 15:46 | By Mackka
Thank God the council has for once showna glimmer of common sense :)
Waddling without Wings
Posted on 04-06-2015 17:34 | By kellbell
Penguin can't you read Condor said go for a binding referendum will which show who is right or wrong in their assessment and that will be the end of it once and for all.I know where would put my money but then I doubt you would have the appetite for a dose of reality democracy style anyway.
penguin
Posted on 05-06-2015 03:12 | By YOGI BEAR
Go look at the 2006 survey, half didn't want it, most did not want to pay. A bit like the new Plymouth referendum, 83% voted "NO" so the Mayor then got unhappy and wanted to do it all anyway, but it wont happen. In Tauranga the 2007 election said a lot about it to, most Councillors who supported the massive Museum on the water scheme, all went west, and a good thing to. Sadly some of those vultures are still lurking around looking for a chance to get into the public purse again. We must all be vigilant and some.
Kenworthlogger
Posted on 05-06-2015 03:16 | By YOGI BEAR
The chance of it working is certain, it wont. The perfect example is there already, got take a hike to katikati, the museum there failed even with unlimited free labour, there was just not enough people paying to see whatever was there. No free Council bus to the door to keep all the Muppets coming all day every day to wander into the place for free.
Lizzie Bennet
Posted on 05-06-2015 03:18 | By YOGI BEAR
Cultural Dessert? I dount that, perhaps if you are missing a massively expensive Museum and at a massive cost every year, then why don't you relocate to Auckland, pay double the rates and nothing to go to the variety of free museums and the like there, go enjoy, see ya pater ....
YES A BINDING REFERENDUM
Posted on 05-06-2015 09:05 | By CONDOR
Penguin there is your answer go get off your butt and organise a poll at next elections then it won't matter a damn what anyones guesstimate about the publics opinion actually is.Museum hopes are not being dashed by TCC or Ratepayers it is simply that the Museum Trust has sat on its hands for nearly 5years spent up to $100k on heaven knows what exactly and has seemingly got no private funding support for this museum aberration.Little wonder the thing is dead in the water.Put it out of its misery.Gone with the wind or by lunchtime tomorrow are good options.
Yogi
Posted on 05-06-2015 17:40 | By Kenworthlogger
I totally agree with you. Council should stay out of museums. Look at the art gallery always holding its hand out to council. We were promised is was not going to be funded by the council and look at it now always after council money...
Same old same old!
Posted on 06-06-2015 13:46 | By Mackka
Every 'Tom Dick and Harry' town in NZ has a museum. In EVERY museum you see the same old stuff. There are beaut museums in KatiKati, Waihi - Paeroa etc not to mention Rotorua, Whakatane and over the hill to the dozens close at hand. If you want to see a museum get in the car and you'll be at one in a few minutes in any direction! Its the same old Maori stuff in every one! Seen one and you've seen then all. A museum is the LAST white elephant thing Tauranga needs!
BINDING REFERENDUM
Posted on 08-06-2015 00:40 | By YOGI BEAR
That will only last 6 years, then they will be back to have another go and another, what really needs to happen are two things:- First, tell all of the supporters to peeve off and got get your own loot to build and operate it, don't want to hear anything until that is done and dusted. Second dump all the rubbish ion the building in the mount that costs near $1m of ratepayers money every year, then there is no need of all of this bleating as then there's nothing to put in it. Like many have said before there are mega Museums in other towns, that they all have the same stuff, why build another like number 350th of SAME SAME ....
Posted on 09-06-2015 20:50 | By YOGI BEAR
Yeah for sure but this lot of Councillors are very flaky indeed. They can not even remember the reason most of them got in last election, financial prudence ... looks to have been forgotten already.
Yogi
Posted on 10-06-2015 20:54 | By Kenworthlogger
Hopefully the voters remember Yogi.
Kenny
Posted on 11-06-2015 14:27 | By YOGI BEAR
Agree, though they do have short memories and are easily sidetracked by things irrelevant
yawn
Posted on 14-06-2015 00:11 | By Johnnyredneck
Sleepy tauranga prefers to spend it's money fixing roadzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
yawn
Posted on 14-06-2015 00:11 | By Johnnyredneck
Sleepy tauranga prefers to spend it's money fixing roadzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Johnnyredneck
Posted on 14-06-2015 23:04 | By YOGI BEAR
Wish they were, the money spent would mean roads paved in gold. Sadly ... in case you had not noticed, there is not an ounce of gold to be seen anywhere. The money wasted actually is as planned on massive losses, massive debt and massive amounts of staff on massive salaries and packages that are just utterly unbelievable. So there you have it.
Put it at Historic Village
Posted on 01-07-2015 20:26 | By Mayson
Rather than build a new museum building I believe a museum could be set up at the historic village, that would reinvigorate the amazing resource that council already own, the Village is under utilised.
Yogi
Posted on 03-07-2015 11:37 | By Lizzie Bennet
Our Art Gallery does wonders on the smell of an oily rag. What the gallery gets is much less than other councils are willing to put towards art.
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