Source: Radio New Zealand
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is backing the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s request for the government to help top up its cash flow.
Most of the museum has been open to the public since October, after asbestos was found in the almost 100-year-old building, forcing a five month shut-down. But the Te Marae Ātea Māori Court and Pacific galleries are still closed off due to asbestos risk.
Auckland Museum chief executive David Reeves said the cost of removing the asbestos, estimated to be more than $10 million, and the impact of the months-long closure on revenue had put the museum in a precarious financial position.
The museum had already disbanded 31 roles, 14 of which were already vacant.
“We’ve already, unfortunately, had to go through a restructure last year of needing to reduce our staffing by 10 percent,” Reeves told RNZ.
Auckland War Memorial Museum. Auckland Museum
“That’s never an easy exercise to go through, but it was very necessary to try to balance the books for this immediate year. We really don’t want to cut any further services, and we’re being very, very careful about cost control.”
The museum was in the middle of a three-year funding agreement with Auckland Council, receiving roughly $35m of Auckland ratepayers’ money each year.
But in its draft annual plan released this year, the museum projected that public funding, either from the council, the government, or public donations, would need to increase to over $40m a year in the coming years: $46.01m in FY 2027-2028 and $47.80m in FY 2028-2029.
Reeves said the increase was necessary to maintain the building, which they had been in since 1929.
“At the moment, the council is our primary public funder. It is up for conversation, I think, whether it might be time for the central government to chip in.
“We want to do our very best to keep it in good condition and keep the experiences refreshed. We don’t want 30 to 40-year-old exhibitions, which, some of them in some parts of the building, are getting really tired. That’s not really Auckland putting its best foot forward.”
He said the heritage building had unique challenges, making it expensive to look after.
Auckland Museum chief executive David Reeves. RNZ/ Marika Khabazi
“If we were in a more modern building, our building costs would possibly be lower, and we would still run a very effective museum. I’m not suggesting for a minute that we move to a different building, because this beautiful building is very much part of us.
“But the sums that we’re doing at the moment are to properly identify those costs and be transparent with the public, the council, and the government about what it takes to keep this magnificent facility going.”
He said the museum was committed to not charge Aucklanders an entry fee, but increasing how much other visitors paid or the price to see special exhibitions was on the table.
“Charging Aucklanders is something I’m personally very opposed to and the board are supportive of that. Aucklanders have already paid through their rates and that’s part of the deal.
“We’ve done modelling on what would happen if we did have a door charge for Aucklanders. Our total revenue would actually go down because it would become a real disincentive to visit.”
Auckland Museum asset manager Eddy Howell said having the financial support it needed would ensure the museum could be enjoyed by future generations.
“They need to see what we saw and what our predecessors saw. A lot of people whakapapa to this place. Their family was in the war, their names are up on the walls. It’s a piece of history that needs to continue.
“It’s also one of the largest limestone buildings in the country. It has a lot of unique features. The masons who worked on the building back in the day did it all by hand. It does need to be repaired and brought back to the state that it was in 1929.”
RNZ / Nick Monro
Associate project manager of public programmes Hannah Temara said the museum still has a lot of value.
“We as a museum protect and hold so much taonga and knowledge.
“It’s a special place to educate the newer generation and for the older generation to reminisce.”
Brown told RNZ the museum should charge a “modest” entry fee, he suggested possibly $5, to New Zealanders who lived outside of Auckland.
He also agreed the government should support the museum instead of Auckland Council forking out more money.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, right, with deputy mayor Desley Simpson. Jessica Hopkins / RNZ
But Arts and Culture Minister Paul Goldsmith told RNZ it had no plans to help.
Auckland Council external partnerships manager Alastair Cameron said future funding for the museum would be considered by councillors in its 2027 planning.
“Council fully intends to engage with the museum to better understand the financial pressures it’s facing and to work collaboratively toward a good outcome for both the museum and the city, before any funding decisions are required.”
Deputy mayor Desley Simpson said she was aware of the museum’s financial challenges.
“As a courtesy and in the spirit of close collaboration, the museum gave us a heads-up about the challenges they are facing before the draft annual plan was released.
“As the arts and culture lead councillor, I have met informally with the board to discuss their challenges, and we will continue to have ongoing discussions.”
Public submissions on the museum’s annual plan close on Thursday and a hearing on the feedback received was expected to take place at the museum this month.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
