The iconic Kestrel ferry will soon bid Tauranga's waterfront goodbye and resume sailing on Auckland's harbour after being sold on TradeMe. The newly-formed Kestrel Preservation Society has bought the ferry and hopes it will become a key feature in the Auckland waterfront's future redevelopment plans. Tentative berthage arrangements are being made for either the western side of Princes Wharf or the western side of Queens Wharf; subject to being able to negotiate rates with Ports of Auckland Limited.
The Kestrel is heading north.
Kestrel Preservation Society's spokesperson Hugh Gladwell says the Kestrel will be fitted out and operated to maximise its use by the public.
'The exact use to which it is put will depend on discussions with the Waterfront Development Agency and will be subject to slipping and surveying the boat.
'The new Waterfront Development Agency in Auckland comes into existence on the 1 November 2010. We hope to have discussions with them over the Kestrel becoming a key attraction in the redevelopment of the Auckland waterfront.”
He says many Aucklanders will remember sailing aboard the Kestrel and will be thrilled to have her home.
The Kestrel, which is the last working survivor of Auckland's historic ferry fleet, has in recent times become an iconic part of Tauranga's CBD waterfront since it first arrived in 2004. It was re-fitted as a floating restaurant, but since the previous tenant moved out two years ago the ferry has been empty. Former owner Mark Scapens put the Kestrel up for sale in May this year after being unable to negotiate an extension to the ferry's 10 year lease with Tauranga City Council. 'There was a huge amount of interest as you'd expect for a vessel with such a long and colourful history. 'I'm very happy the Kestrel Preservation Society has bought the vessel and that she will once again sail on the harbour in which she was first launched.” The Kestrel is 105 years-old and is believed to be one of the largest wooden vessels of this age left in New Zealand. The Kestrel's engine was decommissioned as part of her placement on The Strand waterfront in Tauranga and engineers Peter LeGrouw and Cameron Pollard will now determine whether it is feasible to re-commission the engines in Tauranga. Failing that, arrangements will be made to tow the Kestrel back to Auckland as soon as possible, hopefully within the next month.
15 comments
Good for the jafas
Posted on 01-11-2010 18:21 | By thinkaboutit
Yes, Kestrel was a real assett where many spent time in a quality atmosphere, enjoying quality food and service. There are not many eating places in Tauranga that could compete with it. And here we are, because of our City Council, giving away a major attraction to the jafas. Good for you jafas, we'll call and visit.
Shortsighted
Posted on 01-11-2010 19:19 | By Countrygirl
Once again very short sighted of our council. This gave our strand some character, as well as a fabulous place to eat.
Back where it belongs
Posted on 01-11-2010 19:21 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
The kestrel is Auckland history and that's where it belongs. Thinkaboutit, you need to try No.1 The Strand which is a real piece of tauranga history and a quality restaurant. Meanwhile, what going to happen to that ugly edifice boxy barge that the kestrel is moored to? You can hardly see the lovely old boat because of that. Perhaps sunlive can inform.
Small Minded Decision
Posted on 01-11-2010 21:53 | By carpedeum
Well TCC - take a bow- you are trying to develop the Waterfront area and have let an Icon like the Kestrel go by not renewing the lease and trying to accomodate someone/something with a bit of flair - small minded indeed.
Rent baby rent
Posted on 02-11-2010 08:42 | By Tony
Before you pile the blame on TCC maybe you should find out what sort of Rental the owner wanted ....Then if you can do simple maths you will see why this "Tub" is going back to Auckland
Oh boo hoo...
Posted on 02-11-2010 09:53 | By morepork
Having dined twice on Kestrel and had a bad experience both times, I resolved not to do so again. However, friends from out of town insisted we celebrate a birthday there and so I reluctantly agreed. It was a disaster for which they paid around $700 for atrocious service, attitude that verged on rudeness, lukewarm food and highly overpriced wine. As a restaurant it was nothing more than a fairly exclusive club where Business people on expense accounts could waste their time. The average Tauranga citizen (those who could afford to go there) pretty soon realised they were much better served by other restaurants in the town and it was no surprise (to me, at least) that the business folded and it was empty for years. Whether the problem was with rents being asked or the lease from TCC, the fact remains it was a poorly run business and in this town poorly run businesses don't survive. Always sorry to see any business fail, but Kestrel will be much better off in Auckland.
Haven't heard from Mr Scapens?
Posted on 02-11-2010 10:45 | By Murray.Guy
"Former owner Mark Scapens put the Kestrel up for sale in May this year after being unable to negotiate an extension to the ferry's 10 year lease with Tauranga City Council." I supported the original agreement in 2001 when it came before Council for discussion and agreement. Some may not consider this relevant but Mr Mark Scapens (or his representative) has not yet discussed his concerns with 'elected members' as an agenda item.
Poor council performance yet again
Posted on 02-11-2010 12:06 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
The council should be bending over backwards to attract things like the Kestrel, and investors/entrepreneurs like Mark Scapens to this area, so that THEY (private enterprise) will supply things FREE OF CHARGE to the area and the ratepayers. Instead, the council appear to bully and scare OFF these people. They should be doing Backward FLIPS to appease these people instead of trying to milk them for every penny. As long as these things dont COST the ratepayers, then council should be encouraging these things here - instead they scare them away, and then get bullied by the unprincipled looters (voters) to providing them - which in turn puts up the rates, and incites all the squealing. So what if it the service etc was bad Morepork - that is the problem of the people running it - not the council. People who provide bad goods and services get their just dessert when people like yourself refuse to go back there. They either learn a lesson or go bust. By scaring away people willing to INVEST in Tauranga, the council are doing their employers (the ratepayers) a disservice. People who dont do their job properly should get the sack. Personally The Kestrel looked Great on the waterfront - now all we have is an empty wharf - shame on the council AGAIN
No sunken treasure
Posted on 02-11-2010 12:12 | By Colleen Spiro
I am pleased to see that this beautiful character boat will not be sunk as was once suggested.
Kestral off to Jafa-land
Posted on 02-11-2010 12:48 | By tia
Good riddence to it. How people can call this an asset is beyond me. It was a clapped out hulk that should have stayed in Auckland and it was beyond it's life when I travelled on it in the mid '50's. A keel full of Concrete to keep it stable. Don't forget it was private enterprise that brought it here in the first place. Now it appears to be Councils fault that is on its way North. The best place for this is with the Tangaroa as a diving attraction
quick response to Brilleaux
Posted on 02-11-2010 16:09 | By morepork
"The council should be bending over backwards to attract things like the Kestrel, and investors/entrepreneurs like Mark Scapens to this area, so that THEY (private enterprise) will supply things FREE OF CHARGE to the area and the ratepayers." But what did they ever provide FREE? A boat at the end of a wharf? As you can see from the posts here, opinion about whether that was a benefit or not is divided. I completely agree with you that Council SHOULD encourage free enterprise and entrepreneurism, but I suspect that if you put this to Stuart Crosby, he would reply that they do. "Instead, the council appear to bully and scare OFF these people. They should be doing Backward FLIPS to appease these people instead of trying to milk them for every penny." We only have one side of the story. You may know more about this than I do, but I don't have enough information to make a conclusion. "As long as these things dont COST the ratepayers, then council should be encouraging these things here" Agreed. "So what if it the service etc was bad Morepork - that is the problem of the people running it - not the council." Yes, it is. And that was my point. I never mentioned the council in my post because, quite frankly, I don't care about the deal between the business and the council. I DO care about not getting ripped off when I go out to dinner and so, like many others, I voted with my feet. I suspect our respective views here are coloured by our respective interests. Mine are simply about dining,not politics. Otherwise, I take no issue with what you posted, as long as you are sure of the facts and can assert unequivocally that the failure of Kestrel in Tauranga is entirely the fault of the council. On my experience, that isn't the case.
lol ya tools
Posted on 02-11-2010 17:33 | By Tony
The TCC didnt set the rent the owner did That and poor service + avaerage food is what killed it. I hate to say it but even I cant stick this to TCC
WE WILL MISS YOU KESTRAL
Posted on 02-11-2010 22:46 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
AWESUM BOAT WITH A AWESUM HISTORY BUT MAYBE WE CAN RECLAIM OUR STOLEN WATERFRONT TO TAKE OUR KIDS FISHING
Business venture, business consequences
Posted on 03-11-2010 09:59 | By DRich
The owner took a punt, the resident business couldn't be sustained - for reasons noted above. No one else was game enough, hence it's sitting there - and bleating about the lease really just denies reality. New port of call, new business venture - end of story.
It is part of Auckland
Posted on 03-11-2010 12:08 | By dstewart
The Kestral had no Tauranga history and that eyesore of a glass box in front of it was inappropriate in that setting and ruined the waterfront. The sooner that is also removed the better. I travelled on the Kestral from Devonport to school and have fond memories of it but it has no part in our local history.
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