A revamped National Aquarium of New Zealand needs to be affordable for residents, while being "open for business" for tourists, Napier City Council has been told.
At a council meeting yesterday, it was agreed to recommend taking the next steps of their aquarium expansion proposal - including presenting its indicative business case to the Government.
Councillors expressed their excitement about the project - hoped to make the aquarium a unique, eco-tourism destination, while providing new jobs and an economic boost for Hawke's Bay.
Read more: Eco-tourism, economy boost, and "unforgettable experience" heralded for aquarium expansion
Napier aquarium expansion plan conscripts Weta and Air NZ
With high-profile partners on board - including Weta Workshop, Air New Zealand and the University of Waikato - councillor Tony Jeffery said the project would be a "major success".