Panel to review Blake memorial

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The design of the glass-encased memorial to Sir Peter Blake is to be reviewed by an urban design panel of architects and other experts.

The review follows widespread criticism of the $10 million tribute at the National Maritime Museum and an apology yesterday from Auckland City Mayor John Banks for not doing enough to sell the benefits to the public.

Mr Banks has also offered to convene a meeting with the Minister of Conservation, Chris Carter, to propose that the Government and Auckland Regional Council buy Kaikoura Island.

This followed a presentation to the council by the Native Forest Restoration Trust, the group behind buying Kaikoura Island in the Hauraki Gulf as another form of memorial.

Mr Banks said the museum needed a facelift but he had no problem if the giant glass exhibition building housing the America's Cup winning yacht Black Magic was "dialled back or dialled down or dialled out".

The Urban Design Panel, which vets new central city buildings and is led by the head of Auckland University's School of Architecture, Professor John Hunt, will be asked to comment on the design. Te Papa has also asked the project architect, Pete Bossley, to review his own design.

Mr Banks acknowledged the benefits of the maritime museum memorial to Sir Peter had not been adequately sold to the public.

"I accept some responsibility for that, as I'm sure do Te Papa and the Government. The public would support it if they understood what a superb, international, high tech, interactive project it will be, easily accessible to the people of the region and schoolchildren," Mr Banks said.

City Vision leader Dr Bruce Hucker blamed Mr Banks' proclaimed "I'm elected to lead, not to follow" style of leadership for getting the council into difficulty.

"The processes used at Auckland City in supporting a memorial with the maritime museum have not involved taking the public with us. There has been no serious debate about what is the most appropriate memorial to Sir Peter and his excellent achievements," Dr Hucker said.

Another City Vision councillor, Penny Sefuiva, criticised the council for diving into the project without discussing the on-going costs of the $10 million exhibit once it has been erected.

The council voted 12-8 to proceed in principle to invest $2 million towards the Te Papa-driven ship-in-the-bottle proposal subject to the national museum raising $5.5 million in private sponsorship. The Government has committed to supply the other $2.5 million.

This followed a plea from Native Forest Restoration trust spokesman Geoff Davidson for the council to "honour Sir Peter's vision and assist us in purchasing Kaikoura Island".

He said it was a last chance to buy Kaikoura before it was sold and subdivided. It was a "reality waiting to happen" with cabin facilities already in place for an outward bound-type environmental education experience.

Mr Banks said he supported buying Kaikoura as a further tribute to Sir Peter but not with ratepayers' money.

He offered to lead a deputation of himself, Auckland Regional Council chairwoman Gwen Bull and Auckland Conservator Rob McCallum to Chris Carter to ask the Government to fund half the project and the ARC the other half.

Mr Davidson welcomed the suggestion as "the best of both worlds".

Gwen Bull said the ARC would love to buy Kaikoura but it did not have the money. Besides, the island's size and remote location meant it did not fit the criteria for a new regional park, she said.