The final count in the Whangarei referendum confirms that more people preferred to see the former harbour board building pulled down than the number wanting it turned into a maritime museum.
However, the resounding yes vote for the Hundertwasser-design art gallery complex is still more than the number who voted for those other two options put together.
With special and late votes added, the final numbers released yesterday are 14,256 for the Hundertwasser Wairoa Maori Arts Centre (up from 13,726 at the close of the referendum period on Friday), 8080 for demolition (up from 7876) and 5609 for the Harbourside museum development (up from 5478). Another 86 ballot papers were returned blank and 18 were informal. Nearly half of all eligible people voted (49 per cent).
The outcome of the referendum is binding on the Whangarei District Council but subject to Prosper Northland, the group behind the Hundertwasser option, having all capital funding in hand by June 30, 2017.
Prosper Northland is confident it will have the funds and the work will be under way well before that deadline. A selling point for potential grants is that it will be the last "authentic" Hundertwasser-designed building in the world.
