Twenty jobs to go after quake shuts Rotorua Museum
Rotorua’s most iconic building will be closed indefinitely due to earthquake damage, with the loss of about 20 jobs.
Rotorua Museum director Stewart Brown made the announcement yesterday, saying the museum, which is housed in the historic Blue Baths in Government Gardens, would remain closed until at least April when the results of a detailed seismic assessment should be known.
“At that time we will be able to consider the longer- term future of the museum and any work that’s needed,” he said. “In the interests of staff and public safety, the museum will remain closed until further notice.”
Cracks in the original part of the museum, built in 1908, had been marked and then monitored for years. But further damage after the Kaikoura earthquake — including cracks and movement in walls, ceilings, floor slabs, beams and columns — prompted the museum to close as a safety precaution.
“It’s a complex building and due to its Heritage 1 status we also need to protect the integrity of its heritage features. It’s upsetting for everybody that we are having to do this.”
Brown said about 20 staff, largely employed in front- of- house, retail and cafe operations, would be paid until the end of January and then they would look at redundancy. The museum was also looking at options for redeployment.
A core group of about 23 staff would remain.
“We wanted to give them certainty, either way, before Christmas so they have the opportunity to find work.”
Destination Rotorua chief executive Michelle Templer did not think the closure would have a major impact on visitor numbers to the city.
“Rotorua provides such a robust and iconic visitor experience that we do not believe that its closure alone will deter people from coming.”
She said images of the museum would continue to be used to promote the city. “The bathhouse building is an iconic symbol for Rotorua and one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand.
“We hope that many will still enjoy the beautiful Government Gardens surrounding the building.”
Mayor Steve Chadwick thanked the community for its support.
“We’re very heartened to hear of the support and generous offers of jobs that have been coming in from local businesses and tourism operations and from the wider museum community.” Food rots inside quake- zone restaurant; Illegal tenants’ secret lives exposed