$10m needed for Sir Peter isle

By ANNE BESTON, environment reporter

The owner of an island selling for $10 million agrees it would make a fitting tribute to Sir Peter Blake but has stopped short of offering a financial helping hand.

The owner, who did not want to be named, said buying Kaikoura, the Hauraki Gulf's seventh-largest island, in honour of Sir Peter was a "grand idea" but added official agencies could find the money "if they decide they want something".

Support for the island memorial is gaining support as a better way to honour Sir Peter's environmental work than the proposed glass case exhibit next to the Maritime Museum on Auckland's waterfront.

The $10 million exhibit case will include America's Cup-winning yacht NZL32 and other memorabilia of Sir Peter's career.

A conservation trust which has begun a campaign to stop the island falling into foreign hands said it has received dozens of messages of support.

"It's a formidable prospect because it's much bigger than anything we've attempted," said Forest Restoration Trust spokesman Jim Dart. "But there's a lot of interest. We're keen to see the island stay in New Zealand ownership."

Previous attempts to buy Kaikoura since the 1970s have failed. The last campaign was in 1995 when it is believed to have sold for around $2 million.

The Department of Conservation is sticking to its view that the 564ha island, which lies off the coast of Great Barrier Island near Fitzroy Harbour, is not worth including in its purchase plans.

"We'd be keen to support anyone who puts up a coalition to purchase it but we're still of the view it doesn't have the conservation value to justify its price," said spokesman Warwick Murray.

Although it is home to endangered brown teal and kaka, the island has been heavily degraded by fallow deer, wild pigs, goats and rats.

Te Papa is funding half the cost of the proposed waterfront exhibition because the museum was gifted NZL32.

A Te Papa spokesman said there was concern that the planned memorial was being described as a kind of tomb.

"It's an interactive exhibit looking at the major aspects of Sir Peter's career and his life and the idea it's some kind of mausoleum is really misleading," he said.

Auckland Mayor John Banks, whose council has pledged $2 million to the project, would not comment.

North Shore Mayor George Wood said he supported the waterfront exhibit because it would be accessible to all New Zealanders.

But Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis said the island idea was "better than a glass box at the side of the maritime museum".

Auckland City Councillor Penny Sefuiva agreed.

"The current idea to construct a glass structure at the Maritime Museum is inappropriate and not that creative nor inspiring to Aucklanders," she said.

But Minister for Auckland Issues Judith Tizard said she supported the exhibit.

"This plan fits in with the family's wishes and is a decision that's been made by the people asked to do the work."

Long-time friend of Sir Peter and waterfront businessman John Street, a former member of the Maritime Museum Trust Board, said he would not swap the glass case exhibit for the island, but supported both.

"I think if the island could be purchased it would be a wonderful idea too."

Under Overseas Investment Commission rules, anyone who is not a New Zealand citizen or not normally resident in this country needs consent to purchase 25 per cent or more of "any land on most off-shore islands" and land over 0.2ha which includes or adjoins the foreshore.

* You can donate to the Forest Restoration Trust by contacting Brian Davis on (09) 373-3859 or Jim Dart on (09) 630-2361.

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