Editorial: Base the place for Blake memorial

COMMENT

On rare occasions, opportunities so logical they smack of kismet present themselves. These meet not only the concepts and concerns of all involved but deliver big savings in time, effort and money. Such is the symmetry between the purchase of the Team New Zealand base at the Viaduct Harbour by Auckland City and plans for a memorial to Sir Peter Blake on the waterfront.

So obviously should the memorial be at this epicentre of Team NZ's America's Cup adventure that previous, sometimes excitable, discussion on a suitable memorial now seems utterly misplaced.

That debate focused upon a ship-in-a-bottle memorial, with NZL32 to be housed in an outsized museum display case on Princes Wharf. That project garnered the backing of Lady Pippa Blake, who said her late husband had wished the cup-winning yacht to be displayed. The backing of Sir Peter's family for the $10 million glass structure was not without a caveat, however. They were concerned about the cost.

Unfortunately, the Blake family's enthusiasm for this memorial was not shared by most Aucklanders. TV One and TV3 polls showed about 70 per cent of people would prefer Sir Peter to be remembered through buying and renaming of Kaikoura Island, in the Hauraki Gulf. The cost of buying the island, however, was put at between $5 million and $10 million, a sum too large to make both options feasible. Whatever the popular reservations, Lady Pippa's sentiments tipped the scales in favour of the ship-in-a-bottle.

Te Papa, which with the Auckland City Council instigated the project, took note of her family's criticism and started to examine ways of trimming costs. No word on this redesign has yet emanated from the national museum and, indeed, it has said nothing of its progress towards raising $5.5 million from private backers. But it would not be surprising if Te Papa had found sponsorship hard to come by, especially given the lack of public backing for the project, and criticism that dubbed the memorial a "glass coffin".

All of which makes the housing of NZL32 and other America's Cup displays in the former Team NZ base so appealing. Auckland City has just bought the site for $230,000 as part of its plan to develop the Viaduct Harbour into a marine events centre. That cost is a fraction of the $2 million the Mayor of Auckland has pledged to the Princes Wharf memorial. Additionally, the council expects Infrastructure Auckland soon to transfer ownership of the land on which the building stands.

Using the base as a museum would provide a powerful incentive for the region's councils to gift that land to Auckland City. They would no longer be concerned that it might be used for commercial gain, the proceeds of which would flow exclusively to City ratepayers. Once the transfer was complete, there need be no delay in transforming the base into a museum. Already it has many of the accoutrements - a souvenir shop and an entertainment area that could serve as a cafe. And there would be no resource consent wrangling, such as could yet delay the Princes Wharf development.

From every which way it makes sense to rethink that project. As well as all its advantages, the old Team NZ base is the most appropriate place for a memorial. The America's Cup was claimed in San Diego, but this site was the focal point of the two defences, the first of which was, arguably, New Zealand sailing's greatest triumph. The money saved could also turn thinking back towards the Kaikoura Island nature reserve.

Two apt tributes - one to Sir Peter the champion yachtsman and one to Sir Peter the ardent environmentalist - might just, after all, be conceivable.