A much-hyped movie museum in the home city of famed director Sir Peter Jackson could be in need of a reshoot, with the movie mogul calling for a temporary cut on the long-delayed project after locking horns with the city council.
Located in a prime tourism spot, opposite the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the proposed Movie Museum development includes the visitor attraction occupying two floors of the building, with a 2,000-seat conference venue above it.
Most recent concepts by New Zealand-based designers Studio Pacific Architecture show a minimalistic modern building that meets the NZ$135m (US$97.3m, €87m, £75.4m) budget approved by the council in 2016. A second option would cost a further NZ$15m (US$10.8m, €9.6m, £8.3m) and features an aluminium exterior inspired by the head of a giant fish caught by the mythological Polynesian hero Maui.
The museum, to be operated by Jackson’s The Movie Museum Limited (TMML), would be home to a collection of movie memorabilia synonymous with Wellington’s film-making industry. A strong emphasis will be placed on Jackson’s most famous series of films, the Oscar-winning
Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Unfortunately, the proposal has been anything but an award winner
since Jackson announced in 2015 that he would be investing millions of dollars into the 10,000sq m (107,639sq ft) project.
In December, the director hit out at Wellington City Council for failing to put design and construction contracts out to tender, questioning whether taxpayer money was being used to its full benefit.
According to Jackson, TMML has repeatedly asked to have more say over the museum's design, adding that transparency regarding any obligations attached to any contract is clearly of interest to all parties involved.
Jackson also echoed the sentiments of a 2016 letter from the Mt Victoria Residents Association association, where concerns were raised over the contract "being awarded without tender, as developer Willis Bond and Studio Pacific have been handed the project and presumably are able to charge what they wish".
"We have never understood why the design contract was awarded to Studio Pacific without tender and are concerned, both as project partners and Wellington ratepayers, that this is going to happen again," said Jackson. "We feel it would be wise to tender this process."
In addition, Jackson’s letter said that the council seemed "intent on reneging on many of the terms already agreed in the November 2015 signed contract," which he said was the "principal cause of the ongoing delays".
"There are a lot of major projects we know Wellingtonians are eager to see delivered," said city mayor, Justin Lester in an update on the project last week.
"We are working hard in the background to make sure the Movie Museum and Convention Centre comes to fruition.
"We’ve also said from the start that we want to be New Zealand’s Capital of Culture. We’ve budgeted NZ$127m (US$92.3m, €75.3m) towards that over the next decade. There’s no doubt we’re putting our money where our mouth is.
"Obviously there are some things we are in more control of delivering than others, but on our partnership projects we are steadfastly committed to working well with stakeholders to get things done."
According to the council, the project is expected to boost the regeneration of Wellington, generate significant additional visitor expenditure, cement the city’s image as the film capital of New Zealand and improve livability. The museum was originally scheduled to open this year. A new development timeframe has not been set.
