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Six years after the murder of Sir Peter Blake, an $8.9 million memorial to the yachting icon has been given the green light.
Blue Water Black Magic will blend Sir Peter's story with a history of New Zealand yachting in a three-level exhibition on Auckland's waterfront.
The project, centring on America's Cup-winning yacht Black Magic, will begin in July and finish by September 2009.
Maritime museum chief Craig Hobbs said it had taken two years to find enough money for the tribute after the original "glass box" design was rejected by city councillors and the public. That $10 million proposal was canned after critics said it would be like a glass mausoleum.
Auckland Mayor John Banks, who unveiled the unsuccessful "glass box"concept in 2003 during his first term, said the delay was unfortunate. But he said the new design by architect Pete Bossley was better than the original.
"I think it's a remarkably important project that will substantially add to the Viaduct," he said.
"What I like is that Auckland City ratepayers have put in $2 million of investment and got $10 million worth of infrastructure."
The Government and the council paid about a quarter each, leaving trusts and private donors to come up with the rest.
The building and exhibition, which will replace the Hall of Yachting at the northern end of Hobson Wharf at Viaduct Harbour, will feature Black Magic - the boat on which Sir Peter led Team New Zealand to victory in the America's Cup before a stunned world in 1995. He successfully defended it in 2000.
Team New Zealand gifted Black Magic to Te Papa in 2001, the same year Sir Peter was shot dead by pirates on the Amazon River. He died aged 51. Yesterday, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Sir Peter was New Zealand's greatest yachtsman. "He was imbued with so many of the qualities we admire, not least his courage, determination and love of the natural world."
She read a statement from Sir Peter's widow, Lady Pippa Blake, who gave the project her blessing. Lady Pippa said Sir Peter would have supported the memorial, which would give others a view into his world.
Sir Peter left Team New Zealand after its 2000 win to start his environmental organisation, Blakexpeditions.
