Carparks perfect for offices, apartments — developers
Show to run in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
Amusical based on the life of Nelson Mandela is coming to New Zealand next year.
Madiba the Musical, which began its world tour in France, looks at the life of Mandela and his fight against apartheid in South Africa.
Mandela spent 27 years in jail, became the country’s first black president in 1994 and was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He died in 2013.
The musical weaves together stories of the political fight with a tale of forbidden love, and includes a nod to New Zealand and its involvement with the fight against apartheid through the Springbok tour.
French writer Jean-Pierre Hadida, who co-wrote the musical alongside Alicia Sebrien, hopes the production will introduce Mandela’s story to a new generation.
“It’s a fabulous tale; Mandela is probably one of the last heroes of the 20th century,” says Hadida. “Through music and dance and song, we can create a beautiful story, and today, 25 years after the end of apartheid, it’s good for the new generation to know this story with music.”
Hadida, whose previous credits include a musical based on the story of Anne Frank, says Mandela’s story is a historical tale but its themes are contemporary.
“The end of apartheid . . . is a fragile freedom today. It’s still a very modern story because there are so many multi-racial societies and countries, like New Zealand for instance, who need to live together strongly with freedom.
“I want [audiences] to remember that this man was a great man; that he was truly open minded. [Mandela] said that when you have an enemy, you have to sit at the table and talk with them. He fought for reconciliation . . . Mandela wanted African society to go on together.”
New Zealand’s link to the story was a focal point for Hadida.
“New Zealand always was a country that was so strong about human rights,” he says. “People like David Lange, who was so strongly against apartheid, Property developers say Auckland Council-owned carparks are perfect sites for new office or apartment buildings, with many in key central locations bound to benefit from the City Rail Link now under construction.
Property Council Auckland branch president Michael Holloway welcomed analysis from the Auckland Council, which used the $95.2 million Downtown carpark to make a case for sales.
That analysis, prepared last December, questioned the council carpark ownership, with a finance expert saying “unsolicited offers” had been made for valuable parking buildings.
However, the council said yesterday it was not actively pursuing the sale of any of its parking buildings.
Holloway said council carpark redevelopment “would actively contribute to the vision for Auckland outlined in the Unitary Plan through intensification around the new CRL transport hubs. This creates a vibrant city that benefits all Aucklanders. Members welcome the opportunity to partner with the council on these exceptional sites”.
Redevelopment of sites such as the Downtown carpark would help accelerate good intensification of commercial and residential property, he said, with the sites having many development opportunities from mixed-use, commercial and residential.
“The options are endless.” Victoria Park didn’t accept what was happening in South Africa in those times. Mandela always said, when he was visiting countries and making speeches, how much New Zealand was important in his fight for freedom.”
During the musical’s run in Paris, Hadida says a surprise guest showed up.
“Ndaba Mandela [Mandela’s grandson] came, and we were a bit nervous about his judgment,” says Hadida. “We were so proud because he told us, ‘I feel like I’m watching my grandfather on stage’.”
Although the musical analyses serious issues, Hadida says, ultimately, he hopes audiences leave with joy in their heart.
“It’s an important and serious story, but there is a lot of song, dance, entertainment; the musical is very happy too, and there is a happy ending in the show.”
David Lai, financial planning senior analyst with the council, wrote in December that Auckland had an “opportunity to reconsider its rationale for continuing ownership, particularly given the presence of well-functioning privately operated facilities”.
“Auckland Council has in the past received unsolicited offers for our parking buildings indicating private interest in the provision of these services,” said his report.
Lai said the 2088-space Downtown had a June 2016 book valuation of $95.2m, produced annual net operating surplus of $6.6m, yet stood on 6442sq m of “prime CBD real estate close to entertainment
iMadiba the Musical will be at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre Jan 24-Feb 3; Wellington’s Opera House Feb 7-10; and Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal Feb 14-17. and public transport facilities”.
A block away, Precinct Properties is developing the 38-level, $800m-plus Commercial Bay. Although Lai did not mention that specifically, Precinct owns land spread across two blocks — all except Downtown. It has the PwC Centre, AMP Centre and the big Commercial Bay site.
Scott Pritchard, Precinct chief executive, did not respond to questions about Precinct’s desire for Downtown.
The council manages four parking buildings in the CBD, one each in Manukau and New Lynn, and more than 150 carparks across Auckland. Some parks do not produce revenue.