‘Concern’ from waka building trustees
WELLINGTON Waterfront officials are at loggerheads with local iwi over the amount of Maori culture being showcased in the city’s $12.5 million wharewaka building.
Documents obtained by The Dominion Post under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act reveal a series of correspondence detailing concerns.
Wellington Waterfront chief executive Ian Pike wrote to the trustees of the Wharewaka o Poneke Charitable Trust on December 13 reminding them of the agreement the two bodies had entered into when the wharewaka was being developed.
The council contributed about $1m in ratepayer funds towards the building, which houses two ceremonial waka.
‘‘The objectives included a requirement that the wharewaka development be operated so as to be a showcase for Maori culture and a significant attraction for the people of Wellington and visitors to Wellington.’’
Wellington Waterfront had a clear expectation that progress would be accelerated to meet the objectives as earlier agreed.
‘‘WWL assumes that the trust has a programme in place to develop and accelerate the operation of the wharewaka so as to achieve the stated objectives and the permitted use, to a standard and level which was clearly anticipated and indeed required at the outset of the development . . . The trust will be aware that not only is this of fundamental importance to WWL, but is embedded in the contractual commitments which it has made to WWL.’’
Mr Pike said Wellington Waterfront was concerned insufficient progress – on the showcasing of Maori culture in the new building – had been achieved to date.
Te Wharewaka o Poneke Charitable Trust chairman Sir Ngatata Love replied to Mr Pike’s letter on December 20 expressing his ‘‘extreme concern’’ at the tenor of Mr Pike’s letter.
‘‘Massive efforts have been made by both the trust and volunteers to showcase Maori cultural aspects of Te Raukura and the relationship with the Port Nicholson Block area,’’ Sir Ngatata wrote.
He and his colleagues had more than fulfilled the objectives of the agreement and were proud of what they had achieved.
‘‘My personal observation is that this is widely appreciated and has been the subject of much positive comment.’’
Sir Ngatata said he had sent a copy of Mr Pike’s letter and his response to the members of his trust, Mayor Celia WadeBrown, Wellington City Council chief executive Garry Poole, WWL chairman Robert Gray, and people involved with the cultural and educational initiatives associated with Te Raukura.
Mr Pike responded to Sir Ngatata’s letter expressing regret that his earlier letter had been received with ‘‘extreme concern’’ by trust members.
He extended an invitation to Sir Ngatata and his fellow trustees to meet the board on February 24.
However the parties have able to meet.
WWL is a Wellington controlled organisation.
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