A formula of ‘thirds' could be the answer for Tauranga locals desperate to see a museum constructed here in the city.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry got a small taster of the area's history when she visited The Elms and Tauranga Heritage Collection on Friday morning.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry with Tauranga MP Simon Bridges and deputy mayor Kevin Clout checking out the Tauranga Heritage Collection on Friday morning. Photo: Simon bridges/Facebook

She was accompanied by Tauranga MP Simon Bridges and TCC deputy mayor Kevin Clout during her visit.

Maggie says ever since taking on the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio the Tauranga MP has been in constant contact about the need for a museum, which was the reason behind her visit on Friday.

'You're the only region in the country that doesn't have its own museum,” she says. 'Having now seen some of the 30,000 heritage items in storage I absolutely believe Tauranga deserves and needs to make it happen.

'With the history you have here it seems very much of a shame to me the public of Tauranga cannot see these wonderful objects that are tucked away.

'It's a sad state of affairs that there isn't one already, but I understand the reasons why.”

As part of the Long Term Plan deliberations held earlier in June, Tauranga City Council declined spending $40,000 on a survey to measure residents' want and desire for a museum.

This survey also would have included whether ratepayers were prepared to pay for a large chunk of operating costs, similar to a survey carried out in 2006.

The results of that 2006 survey showed 49 per cent supported building a museum, 30.8 per cent did not support it, and 19.6 per cent were undecided.

But 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.

Maggie believes for something like a regional museum to be built it would be too much of a burden on ratepayers to fund it alone.

But this is where the formula the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage uses for its Regional Museum Fund would come in: 'a third, a third, a third”.

'So the crown would put up a third, the local authority would put up a third, and then you would raise money locally from businesses and philanthropists and others who believe in the project.

'Having spoken to deputy mayor Kevin Clout and Simon, there's a real willingness to engage.”

Maggie says she is willing to look at making a significant contribution if council can tell her the people of Tauranga want a museum and they are prepared to fund a third of it.

'When the people and the council are ready for it we are there as the crown to join forces in partnership.

'Standing in the Art Gallery and looking to the future when the council chambers aren't there, there could be an opportunity to build something near the gallery and make this a cultural hub.”