Sir Michael says YES!

"The most exciting opportunity Whangarei has ever had" is how Sir Michael Hill is describing the proposed Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Art Centre.

The Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Art Centre in Whangarei’s Town Basin, as visualised by local supporter Steve Sharp.Today marks the start of a three week polling process, during which Whangarei residents and ratepayers vote by postal ballot in the binding public ‘Hundertwasser’ referendum.

As voters weigh their options, Hundertwasser supporters are urging Whangarei to consider the advice of one of the city’s most famous sons.

In an interview with Jennifer Dann, Sir Michael Hill – jeweller, entrepreneur and philanthropist – called the Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Art Centre “the most exciting opportunity that Whangarei has ever had. It will be a huge tourist draw card that will bring people from all over the world.”

“There are always people that will knock spending money on such a project but in the long term we’re all going to benefit enormously.

“When Frank Lloyd Wright was going to build the Guggenheim Museum in New York, there was an enormous protest and people said, ‘if this ridiculous building is built, it will ruin our reputation as a global city.

“If we don’t do it, I think it will be a tragedy for Whangarei. The city will really regret it.. Hundertwasser actually lived in the Bay of Islands and he left a gift of that design. This is a unique opportunity and we can’t stand still” says Sir Michael.

Born in Whangarei, Michael Hill started out as an aspiring musician and watch maker. His passion for creativity inspired him to found Michael Hill Jeweller in 1979, then open seven shops in just seven years and 70 more in the following seven years. The company is now an international brand, with stores in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States. Sir Michael continues to serve as its chairman.

The referendum decides the fate of the former Harbour Board building in Whangarei’s Town Basin. Empty for 12 years, the Whangarei District Council have put forward three options for it’s future; Harbourside (a maritime-themed museum), the Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Art Centre or demolition.

Harbourside will cost Whangarei ratepayers $2.5m and upwards of $400,000 per annum to operate. Hundertwasser will cost ratepayers $2.8m, with no ongoing operating expenses. A recently reviewed Deloitte Feasibility Study predicts the Hundertwasser art centre will reach an operating surplus of $800.000 by it’s tenth year of operation.

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Image: Dropbox containing images for web and print here.
Image credit: Steve Sharp

More information:

WDC webpage on referendum details here.
PNT-produced Referendum Fact Sheet here (pdf)
HWMAC backers Prosper Northland Trust website here.
Deloitte Feasibility Study on HWMAC pdf here.
WDC Referendum Brochure (comparing projects) here (pdf)
Hundertwasser project Facebook page here.
Colour Our City (Whangarei community artivisim in support of HWMAC) images here (Flickr)
The Story of the Hundertwasser project here.
Frequently Asked Questions here.
Professor Jonathan Mane-Wheoki presented video about the proposed project here.

For any further information please email yeswhangarei@gmail.com