Te Papa Auckland move is delayed

Te Papa’s controversial plans for a South Auckland exhibition and storage space are on hold, after its $40 million budget bid was rejected.

The cost has blown out by a third and the project director has now left the museum.

The Te Papa Manukau project was announced in 2013 by then culture and heritage minister Chris Finlayson. It proposed a new shared exhibition, education and storage facility in South Auckland’s Hayman Park, which would house up to half of Te Papa’s treasures.

The project was to be a collaboration with Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland War Memorial Museum, with Te Papa shouldering the building and running costs.

Te Papa chief executive Rick Ellis has revealed that a budget bid was submitted to the Government earlier this year, but was declined. Te Papa intended to submit a refined proposal in the next budget round, he said.

‘‘We are very committed to it. I would hope – as does the board – that we will be successful in a future budget bid.’’

However, the project director, Jami Williams, who was appointed only last September, has now left. According to her Linkedin profile, she left in September to work at Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Williams declined to comment on her reasons for moving. Te Papa said the job was always intended to be a 12-month contract.

The museum is counting on Te Papa Manukau to provide the extra 7000sqm of storage space it will need by 2030. Ellis said there was no pressing need for additional storage in the next two to three years.

According to the museum’s latest annual report, the development process has already cost at least $522,000. Initial estimates put the project’s capital cost at $30m, with a $3m annual running cost. However, Ellis said the facility was now expected to cost $40m to build.

Culture and Heritage Ministry spokesman Tony Wallace said the proposal remained ‘‘under consideration’’. Further feasibility studies and business plans would need to be completed before a final decision was made, he said.