Katikati Heritage Museum's manager has told Western Bay of Plenty councillors a $65,000 annual plan grant to aid its financial situation will simply be 'a Band-Aid to the haemorrhaging”.

Speaking on her submission to Western Bay of Plenty District Council's 2014/2015 annual plan, Paula Gaelic says the museum needs annual council funding to continue.

Katikati Museum manager Paula Gaelic with volunteers Marion Banister, Michael Cuthbert, Rollo Dunlop and Robert Hubble. Photo by Tracy Hardy

'As for going forward, from a manager's point of view, all the rest of the museums in cities are given money every year by council – we would like to think in our Long Term Plan we are part of that,” says Paula, answering financial queries from WBOPDC's CEO Glenn Snelgrove.

Paula also told councillors collections in the museum would probably have to be gifted back to owners if the facility does fold under financial pressure.

'Our two major collections were legally handed over to the museum. If the museum wasn't there I guess we'd have to give or offer them back to the families, because they were given to the museum so everyone could see them.”

SunLive understands in 2013 Katikati Museum Trust purchased the museum, land and building for $950,000, with a $500,000 BNZ loan and the remaining $450,000 being loaned from the Merriman family trust.

The $500,000 bank loan was loaned by the council going guarantor but the museum has since struggled to meet its $65,000 annual outgoings, so has approached council for help.

Queried by councillor Ross Goudie at this week's hearings, Paula says she also can't ascertain how much the collections are worth because items are not catalogued or accessioned.

'You cannot know the individual worth without cataloguing and accessioning each item. [otherwise] it's pie in the sky.”

In its first of three days of annual plan submission hearings, the council expects to hear more on the museum's dilemma with the council receiving more than 300 submissions related to the proposed $65,000 council grant.

More than 200 supported one of three proposed funding options, while 58 opposed funding.

Omokoroa Community Board deputy chairperson John Palmer says his board prefers to decline ratepayer funding for the museum, but will not oppose option two if supported by Katikati's community.

'The Katikati museum is not a district-wide museum but a local enterprise that is focussed on the history of the local area. It is a privately owned and operated establishment, which has grown out of a cafe with added local heritage exhibits,” says John.

'While museums are part of the local government space, there has been no long-term planning or district-wide consultation over the establishment of the museum and there has been no council oversight of its management or assessment of its long term financial viability.”

John says while funding is sought for one year there's a clear expectation if funding is given in this plan, further ratepayer funding will be provided in following years.

'If this council wishes to support a museum the OCB recommends it combines its resources with Tauranga City Council for a centrally-located museum, covering all of the Western Bay of Plenty/Tauranga area.

'This should be undertaken as part of normal long term planning.”

To end her submission, Paula pointed to the word ‘cultural' in the council's chamber signs.

'Katikati Heritage Museum is the only sign of cultural heritage in the Western Bay.”