FAQs
- mana whenua and tauiwi,
- arts and museum,
- coast and urban,
- Aotearoa and the world.
- Te Hīnaki Civic Building, 101 Esk Street, Invercargill
- Bluff Service Centre, 16 Gore Street, Bluff
- Invercargill Public Library, 50 Dee St, Invercargill
- He Waka Tuia, 42 Kelvin St, Invercargill
- Murihiku Marae, 408 Tramway Rd, Invercargill
Why are we consulting on this again?
We know from previous consultations that the community really want to see us open a new museum, and as quickly as possible. The project is continuing and at this stage we don’t see the current projected timeline, with opening in late 2026, being impacted by this consultation, however, Council needs to make a decision on how to focus funding and address the current shortfall we are facing. This means we’re asking for your thoughts on the options considered so your Councillors can make a decision based on community feedback.
Why wasn’t this part of the LTP consultation?
The final quote for the building and cost estimate for the experience were not finalised until July and August, which means we didn’t have information to include in the Long-term Plan consultation in March, However, community feedback received during the Long-term Plan consultation strengthened Council's resolve to not delay the project further, and continue with the project build preparation while consulting on Funding the Vision.
What is the overall budget for the project?
The budget for Project 1225 is currently $74.1 million, of which $9.4 million has been spent on Te Pātaka Taoka Southern Regional Collections Facility, $734,000 on Te Moutere Tuatara Island, and $63.9 million set aside for the museum. The $74.1 million budget is funded by a $57.1 million investment from Council, $10.4 million committed external funding, and $6.6 million of external funding still to be secured, which will be underwritten by Council in case it is not secured
How much is Council going to increase the budget?
Depending on the decision Councillors make, the budget could be increased to $87 million in total for the three projects, with Council's maximum investment increasing to $76.7 million.
How much is this going to cost ratepayers?
Each option has a different cost. The full details on costs and the impact on rates
can be found on pages 5 to 8 of the consultation document.
Why is the project over budget and can’t you just make it cheaper?
Since we consulted in 2022, building costs have continued to increase and inflation has been much higher than we anticipated. As we now have detailed costings, we have estimated that approximately $10.5 million of the current design estimate increase is due to inflation. Every effort has been made to test the budget and options, but we have been unable to find an on-budget option that will meet the critical success factors and include a high level of interactive and immersive experience
The requirements for the museum have been guided by the Critical Success Factors and Vision developed by an independently appointed Museum Governance Group who undertook this work in 2022, which is detailed on pages 9 and 10 of the consultation document.
Councillors have identified areas where the budget could be more flexible, to help bring the costs down, and these options are laid out on pages 5 to 8 of the consultation document.
What happens if Council is not successful in achieving the level of external funding required?
Council will be required to underwrite all costs. This means that if external funders provide less than expected, Council will need to fund the proposed shortfall via additional borrowing. Rates will need to increase to pay for the interest on and repayment of the additional loan.
Why did the museum design change and how much did that cost?
The design team for Te Unua Museum of Southland last year delivered a concept of what our new museum could look like. Our ECI contractor Naylor Love, alongside Architectus, have now taken the initial concept forward to create a detailed design, which gives us the plans for a structure that we can realistically bring to life with focus on buildability and cost certainty, while still creating a stunning and modern new facility.
The updated designs reveal enhancements to the original concepts released last year, plus new design elements of this exciting new development for Southland. The concept design and detailed design phases were always part of the plan and included in the museum budget
Will entry to the museum be free?
The plan is to make the semi-permanent Southland exhibition free, however, this will be determined through Council's fees and charges closer to opening time. Special exhibitions, programmes and activities may require an entry fee.
What kind of exhibitions will there be?
Exhibition spaces will include long-term storytelling, shorter-term exhibition space for special exhibitions and touring shows. The long-term story of Southland exhibition will include all the stories of our region, told in new, unique and innovative ways through tactile physical and interactive technological storytelling.
Will the museum be accessible?
The new museum and all its spaces have been designed with accessibility front of mind, including appropriate parking, lift access to the terrace and other required and necessary accessibility features.
Why can’t the museum be in a different building around town, like the old Farmers or H&J Smith buildings?
In the early stages of Project 1225, in late 2021 to mid-2022, the project team investigated these buildings as a possible option for our regional collection storage facility, along with 18 other locations.
Throughout this process, we also assessed a number of sites across the CBD and wider city for the location of the future museum, assessing them against the Queens Park site. It was determined the Queens Park site would be the most appropriate, and this was also aligned to advice from the Museum Governance Group.
Will the building look exactly like the render images?
The detailed design render images show the structure and design of the building, and while they don't exactly reflect the final colours and materials, they are close to what we can expect of the final product.
If the car park is delayed, where will museum visitors park?
If this is the decision that Council goes with then Council will monitor whether existing parking around Queens Park is sufficient following opening of the facility and may elect to provide the additional car park in the future.
What does Te Unua mean and how do I pronounce it?
Te Unua is a double-hulled voyaging waka (canoe) and is a reflection of several dualities
The name Te Unua was gifted to Council for the museum by Waihōpai Rūnaka, and in August 2023, Council made the decision to name the museum Te Unua Museum of Southland. It is pronounced teh oo-nua.
How can I have my say?
The easiest way to have your say is to submit online
Alternatively, use the submission form in the back of the consultation document, or the postcards and deliver to:
Post to: Submission – Te Unua, Invercargill City Council,
Private Bag 90104, Invercargill, 9840
Email to: policy@icc.govt.nz
Public hearings will take place on 8 October 2024, remember to indicate on your submission if you wish to be heard