Sarjeant Gallery: Trust chairwoman Nicola Williams steps down after 11 years

Sarjeant Gallery Trust chairman Nicola Williams (left) with Rakeipoho Taiaroa (son of Sir Archie Taiaroa) at the gallery’s reopening ceremony. Photo / Alanah Brown

Nicola Williams’ 11-year run leading fundraising for the Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment in Whanganui has ended. She stepped down as the chairwoman of Sarjeant Gallery Trust on December 11, around a month after the gallery reopened to the public.

Williams said originally, she only planned to be in the role for five years.

“It has been challenging but it was important to see it through,” she said. “I promised [then-Whanganui Mayor] Annette Main I would do that when I took the role on.”

The final cost of the redevelopment was around $70 million, with several significant cost hikes along the way.

Williams said she was “a battler from way back”.

“I don’t take no for an answer and I always think there must be a way.

“[Former gallery director] Greg Anderson absolutely believed in the opportunity and I was very fortunate to work alongside him.”

There were at least half a dozen times when the project would have failed “had we not pulled out all stops to get it over the line”.

Nicola Williams (far right) with former gallery director Greg Anderson, former Whanganui Mayor Annette Main and former Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae at Government House in 2016.

“At one point, we had to find $5m in six weeks, but we did it. It took a lot,” Williams said. “The escalation of prices was something that could not have been predicted.”

Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said he acknowledged Williams’ “extraordinary commitment”.

“I am beyond grateful for Nicola’s involvement in driving the funding of the Sarjeant Gallery,” he said. “It is because of her determination and resolve that we have the gallery we have today.”

Williams had worked with three mayors and multiple stakeholders including iwi and hapū, benefactors and dignitaries around the country and across the world, Tripe said.

“Her legacy will live on forever for the role she has played.

“It is appropriate that Nicola’s mother, Pam Williams, has the dome gallery space named after her.”

Speaking at the gallery’s opening on November 9, Williams said she was proud to have played a part in the gallery’s story and could not wait to see how future generations made “the most of this wonderful facility”.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey,” she said. “The gallery’s best days are still ahead, and I will continue to be one of its most avid supporters.”

She told the Chronicle people from across the country believed in the project and saw the gallery as an economic driver and important place for the community.

“If you look at iwi support, that goes way back in time, long before I joined the board.

“It was particularly mobilised in [former gallery director] Bill Milbank’s years, working with [former Sarjeant trustee] George Waratini and people like that.”

Williams said there were a lot of emotions during the gallery’s opening ceremony.

“Quite a number of our treasured donors and supporters did not live to see the reopening.

“I felt them there, and many others did too.”

Donors to the redevelopment should never be forgotten, especially those that came on board at the start “when many people didn’t believe in the project”.

“Those first ones [donations] are always the hardest to get, whether it’s in business or philanthropy,” Williams said.

Nicola Williams with former government minister and current Sarjeant trustee Chris Finlayson in 2016.

In a statement, the gallery said Williams had always intended to tender her resignation once the re-development was complete.

“Her decision to resign now gives the trust time over the summer break to seek a permanent replacement for 2025.

“This is important as momentum must continue and the expectations of stakeholders and those who have believed in the project are met and exceeded.”

The council’s appointment of Nicki Manthel to the new role of head of development for the Sarjeant Gallery would support this work, as well as looking after donors and building a patron community, the statement said.

Williams said her focus would now turn to her family and business interests.

“I was successful because I had such a strong and capable board of trustees behind me and they always had my back.

“It’s been an honour to serve on that board with them.”

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present, his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.