Maritime treasure on our doorstep

ROBIN BAILEY says Aucklanders are ignoring a world-class asset by not visiting the National Maritime Museum.

The City of Sails has a national treasure on its doorstep. The problem is too many Aucklanders ignore it.

The New Zealand National Maritime Museum has an international reputation as one of the best, which is why 75 per cent of its patrons are overseas visitors.

They read about it in travel and marine magazines and ensure a visit is on their itinerary. Locals, on the other hand, know what it is and where it is. They just don't get around to visiting the museum.

Museum chief executive Larry Robbins, who has had the top job since late 1999, is determined to redress the attendance imbalance.

"We are on Auckland's doorstep and in the heart of what is now a hugely vibrant Viaduct Village," Robbins says.

"My job is to attract more locals to visit so they can appreciate what we have and encourage friends, neighbours and out-of-town visitors to the city to share the museum experience."

He has the right credentials to carry out the job. A Kentish lad, Robbins joined the British Merchant Navy from school.

The young officer emigrated to New Zealand in 1974 to join the hydrographic surveying section of the Royal New Zealand Navy. In his career with the RNZN he commanded a number of smaller vessels and served as navigator on the frigate Taranaki and the survey ship Monowai.

In January 1994 he was given command of Monowai, a post he held until the ship was decommissioned in April 1998. He was skipper when she rescued eight people from three yachts battered by a huge storm during the Auckland-Tonga race, a feat that earned him the OBE and brought commendations to the ship's crew.

Commander Robbins ended his naval career as hydrographer of the RNZN.

At the time the hydrographic section performed a dual role, carrying out the naval charting duties for which it was established and operating as a business unit contracting to Land Information New Zealand.

The experience of running a successful business proved an excellent stepping stone into his role as CEO of the museum.

With a staff of 10 and a loyal band of volunteers, the museum operates on a budget of around $2 million a year, an amount Robbins says is small change compared with the state or central government grants that support other maritime museums around the world.

Auckland City is the museum's major sponsor and, with some of the other local bodies, provides a significant proportion of the museum's revenue. Robbins says this is good value and a modest sum to support such a vital regional asset. The rest comes from ticket sales, commercial operations (rent from the cafe and retail area) and some from sponsorship.

Since moving into the top job, Robbins has completed some projects that were in the pipeline and planned some new ones.

He is quick to pay tribute to the founding members of the museum trust board who had the vision to see what could be created in an area midway between a broken-down wharf and a graveyard for fishing boats.

He is particularly proud of the Pacific Discovery Theatre and the digitally animated film presentation now running there, Te Waka: Our Great Journey. Produced by George Andrews and Logan Brewer, it tells New Zealand's first maritime story, the voyage of immigration.

Phase One of the Rapaki project is also in progress. This will have the steam-powered 1926 floating crane open to the public. The second stage of the project will have its engine in action.

From October 1 the museum will go into America's Cup mode with a Louis Vuitton exhibition, The America's Cup Legend. Launched during the Jubilee Regatta in Cowes this year, it is showing in Paris and will come to Auckland from Hong Kong.

Part of the Hall of Yachting will become the Louis Vuitton media centre for the 2002-03 America's Cup challenger series and for Team New Zealand's defence.

The CEO says of the 160 volunteers: "They are the equivalent of another seven or eight full-time staff and many of the things we do and the services we provide would be impossible without them."

He can use more volunteers. Anyone interested can go to the website.

The Maritime Museum