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Issue 3: Taupō Museum and Art Gallery building

The decision

Whether or not to include a new Taupō Museum and Art Gallery in this Long-term Plan.

The issue in brief

When we amended the 2018-28 Long-term Plan to include a new building for council staff, we also asked the community whether or not they supported the building of a new museum.

While the majority of the submitters were not in support of a new museum, the council recognised there was an opportunity to attract funding from external parties and to offer greater ongoing protection for the district’s heritage items. However, it has been recognised post-COVID those opportunities are likely to be rare and therefore it is proposed not to include a new museum in this Long-term Plan. It is intended to continue to seek external funding opportunities and to include a new museum in future plans if successful.

Our preferred option.

Options

Check out the detailed analysis of each option below and then have your say.

This option would see the Taupō Museum and Art Gallery continue to operate in its existing building and be appropriately maintained.

Advantages Does not significantly increase debt.

The current museum can continue to operate to an acceptable level.
Disadvantages The on-going protection, care and display of the district’s heritage is limited.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa are dispossessed from having the opportunity to see their own history that is held by other institutions.

Lack of access to resources such as archives, photographs, paintings and other collections.
Costs No capital cost for this option.
Levels of service This option would see no change in levels of service.

This option would see a new Taupō Museum and Art Gallery constructed at a yet to be determined location on the Tongario Domain.

We anticipate the new museum would be of a similar design and scale as shown in the Cultural Precinct masterplan that was undertaken prior to the Amendment of the Long-term Plan in 2019. This can be found in the Additional Information section below.

The funding (about $21.6 million), of which approximately one third will be funded by Council debt (about $7.2 million), would be included in the years 2023/24 – 2024/25. No external funding for the remaining two thirds has yet been secured.

Advantages The on-going protection, care and display of the district’s heritage is increased.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa have the opportunity to see the return and display of their taonga.

Increases access to resources such as archives, photographs, paintings and other collections.

Potential for an increase in visitor numbers due to a new museum.
Disadvantages The capital cost will increase debt levels.

If external funding sources do not eventuate, the construction of the museum will not commence.

Other funding sources may include central government, grants, philanthropists etc.
Costs About $22.6m million, of which approximately one third will be funded by debt (about $7.5 million) and two thirds funded by other funding sources.
Levels of service There would be an increased level of service, as the new museum and art gallery would see an enhanced experience for museum visitors and collections held, etc.
Average cost per ratepayer.

Taupo Cultural Precinct Civic Administration Community Centre and Museum Concept estimate (PDF, 173KB)

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