Grant gets centre going
$1m from Govt lets building begin
THE Government has announced a $1 million grant to help build a dedicated heritage centre on Stewart Island.
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Maggie Barry announced the Government would dedicate $1,088,595 plus GST from the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund (RCHF) to the Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust to construct a heritage centre on the island.
She made the announcement on Stewart Island yesterday.
Trust chairwoman Margaret Hopkins said the grant was ‘‘quite amazing’’ and brought the $3.6 million project to the point where construction could begin.
It meant the ‘‘longheld community vision’’ was becoming a reality.
‘‘It’s more than met our expectations. We’re absolutely delighted,’’ she said.
Mrs Hopkins said Island residents valued their heritage, from the stories of the first people who arrived at the island and all who had followed.
‘‘This grant is much needed for the protection and preservation of the collection.’’
The Heritage Centre will house the relocated museum and its collections to a more appropriate standard.
Trust funding manager Jo Learmonth said the grant essentially ‘‘filled the pot’’ for construction.
‘‘This is a big, positive thing for the community. We’re really excited.’’
The museum held a significant regional collection and the new centre would allow increased access for exhibitions, education and research.
The grant was crucial to the development of the growing tourism industry on the island.
A ‘‘substantial’’ amount of funding had been secured in the past 18 months, including $780,000 from the Lotteries Significant Project Fund and $300,000 from the Lotteries Environment and Heritage Fund.
The trust also received funding from the Community Trust of Southland and the Stewart Island/Rakiura visitor levy.
The RCHF funding was granted on the condition the project secured an unencumbered resource consent by December 20.
A decision on the resource application for the project was due in the next few weeks.