Museum seeks ratepayer funding
Hamilton ratepayers are being asked to stump up money to help set up a war memorial museum in France.
The New Zealand War Memorial Museum Trust wants to create a war memorial at Le Quesnoy and has purchased a historic former mayor’s residence and gendarmerie (police station).
Le Quesnoy was liberated by New Zealand soldiers in 1918 and is a sister city to Cambridge in Waikato.
The trust is seeking to raise $15 million, with $9m already secured.
Hamilton City Council is being asked to contribute $178,500 – which works out as a dollar per resident.
The contribution would be spread over three years.
Museum trust chair Sir Don McKinnon met with city councillors in late August to discuss the funding request. It was agreed the request would be addressed during the council’s 2022/23 annual plan process.
City councillor Ewan Wilson, speaking at yesterday’s economic development committee meeting, said he was excited about the opportunity to support the trust.
‘‘I believe there is a significant connection between the city of Hamilton and the events that unfolded at Le Quesnoy and I look forward to talking to my colleagues about that,’’ Wilson said.
In 2018, neighbouring Waipā District Council pledged $150,000 towards the Le Quesnoy project, but the move wasn’t without its critics.
Some Waipā councillors said the scope of the museum project had changed from its original premise.
The proposed museum will focus on New Zealand’s military involvement in Europe and our contributions in both World Wars.
Meanwhile, Hamilton City Council is in negotiations with Hawke’s Bay-based international relationships management company Eastern Bridge, with a view to help it manage its sister-city partnerships.
Hamilton has four sister cities – Saitama in Japan, Wuxi and Chengdu in China, and Sacramento in the United States.
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said she wants the city to have ‘‘more than a shallow relationship or a ceremonial relationship’’ with its sister cities.