Whether the Waka Maori pavilion will make Tauranga its next home is a question that cannot be answered yet, says project coordinator and Tuskany chief executive Sally Cooke.

In light of widespread feedback, much of it negative, on the proposal to put the 75 metre by 12 metre ‘Tupperwaka' on Tauranga's waterfront, Sally wishes to set the record straight.

The multi-million dollar waka.

Her proposal aims to bring the pavilion to Tauranga where it would be used as an events centre, promoting technological innovation and culture.

'We do not have at the moment a cultural, technological innovation, and showcase centre in the Bay,” says Sally.

'Imagine how good that could be as a business asset, a tourist attraction, a cultural asset, and a venue proposition in the bay, which is unique.”

'We are not about going up against the existing venues in the bay, we are about complementing them and this would provide a complement to the venue options but a very unique one.

'So when you go to the Waka Maori you are surrounded by the stories of the Bay, and showcasing our history.”

Sally says before she can answer questions about the pavilion's location, she first has to gather enough information to know if it would succeed as a business venture.

Tauranga City Council projects manager Tony Bodger says they are looking at locations and requirements for the pavilion, as well as services, resource consent, and building consent.

'So as part of feasibility for resource consent we are looking at location and consultation with people that will be affected: the businesses along The Strand.

'We are going to be starting to consult with them, and get some feedback from them.”

From a project point of view there are several locations the project team could end up looking at, they say.

The Tauranga waterfront is just the first location. They are starting with the northern reclamation area opposite the new rail crossing.

'We haven't got a lot of information, but we have to start somewhere,” says Tony.

A meeting with Tauranga City Councillors on Monday, described as confidential, was updating them on progress, says Tony.

He wouldn't call it a briefing because he sees briefing as presenting information upon which a decision is required, and they are not there yet.

Sally says the frustration from their perspective is that any concept or idea, across the world, needs to be looked at first.

'To jump to the dialogue that's happening at the moment; to say ‘It's a bad idea lets rule it out' when we haven't had due process, is really unfortunate when the potential benefits are quite high.

'We think there are enough people in this saying it's worthy of further investigation, so let's make an informed decision rather than an uniformed, off the cuff, shoot from the hip.”

Sally says instead of being part of a key event as it was in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Waka Maori for Tauranga would be a cultural and innovation showcase centre.

'You could have anything from conferences to meetings, to trade shows, corporate events, functions, and AGMs.”

The pavilion has room for 210 banquet seats and can fit up to 600 standing people. The intention is to make the Waka Maori a draw card that will bring people to it from across the central North Island, and drive foot traffic through the central city, says Sally.

'It's not about where it goes, it's about where the greatest need is. The greatest need is revitalising the central city, and the closer the waka is to the central city the easier it is.”

Bay Venues Ltd is helping examine the business case, says Tony.

'It's got to stack up; it's not something that's being taken lightly.

'It all forms part of the picture. We are trying to put the jigsaw together to see what bits fit where. It's a project where if everything stacks up it will be great. But everything does need to stack up.”

They expect to be able to tell Tauranga City councillors in November if the resource consent case stacks up.

The Waka Maori is currently in two containers in San Francisco.

When owners Ngati Whatua o Orakei bring it back to New Zealand it will enter via the Port of Tauranga's Sulphur Point container terminal.