Wellington City Council’s processes frustrates Sir Peter Jackson’s planned Movie Museum

Famed director Sir Peter Jackson has criticised Wellington City Council for a series of delays that are impacting his planned Movie Museum.

Planned for a prime location on the Wellington foreshore, opposite the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the proposed development includes the visitor attraction occupying two floors of the building, with a 2,000-seat conference venue above it.

Most recent concepts by New Zealand-based designers Studio Pacific Architecture show a minimalistic modern building that meets the $135 million budget approved by the Council in 2016. A second option would cost a further $15 million and features an aluminium exterior inspired by the head of a giant fish caught by the mythological Polynesian hero Maui.

The 10,000 metre² attraction, to be operated by Sir Peter’s The Movie Museum Limited (TMML), would be home to a collection of movie memorabilia synonymous with Wellington’s film-making industry. A strong emphasis will be placed on Jackson’s most famous series of films, the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy.

In December, the director hit out at the Council for failing to put design and construction contracts out to tender, questioning whether taxpayer money was being used to its full benefit.

According to Jackson, TMML has repeatedly asked to have more say over the museum's design, adding that transparency regarding any obligations attached to any contract is clearly of interest to all parties involved.

Jackson also echoed the sentiments of a 2016 letter from the Mt Victoria Residents Association, where concerns were raised over the contract "being awarded without tender, as developer Willis Bond and Studio Pacific have been handed the project and presumably are able to charge what they wish".

Sir Peter advised “we have never understood why the design contract was awarded to Studio Pacific without tender and are concerned, both as project partners and Wellington ratepayers, that this is going to happen again.

"We feel it would be wise to tender this process."

Sir Peter’s letter said that the Council seemed "intent on reneging on many of the terms already agreed in the November 2015 signed contract," which he said was the "principal cause of the ongoing delays".

Commenting on the project last month, Wellingtom Mayor Justin Lester advised “there are a lot of major projects we know Wellingtonians are eager to see delivered.

"We are working hard in the background to make sure the Movie Museum and Convention Centre comes to fruition.

"We’ve also said from the start that we want to be New Zealand’s Capital of Culture.

"Obviously there are some things we are in more control of delivering than others, but on our partnership projects we are steadfastly committed to working well with stakeholders to get things done."

According to the Council, the project is expected to boost the regeneration of Wellington, generate significant additional visitor expenditure, cement the city’s image as the film capital of New Zealand and improve livability. The museum was originally scheduled to open this year.

A new development timeframe has not been set.

Images: Sir Peter Jackson (top) and Studio Pacific Architecture's fish designs for the Wellington Movie Museum (below).

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