Proposed Sir Peter Blake tribute announced

Auckland City Mayor John Banks today announced that Council’s Finance and Corporate Business committee proposes that the City contribute $2 million plus GST, over four years, towards a $10 million Sir Peter Blake tribute at the National Maritime Museum.

The Mayor joined the Minister for Sport and Recreation Hon Trevor Mallard, Te Papa chief executive Dr Seddon Bennington, Maritime Museum Trust Board chairman Bob Croker and members of the Blake family for an announcement at the Maritime Museum this morning.

Any council contribution is subject to central government giving $2.5 million and a further $5.5 million being raised by Te Papa and the Maritime Museum through a sponsorship drive.

For some time the city and government have considered how best to recognise the outstanding contribution of the late Sir Peter Blake. Yesterday Council’s Finance and Corporate Business committee resolved that the $10 million tribute is appropriate recognition. It has the wholehearted support of the Blake family.

The proposed tribute to Sir Peter will include NZL32 ‘Black Magic’ being spectacularly suspended over the harbour in a new structure adjacent to the Maritime Museum and a permanent exhibition celebrating Sir Peter’s life.

“We welcome Te Papa to Auckland. This $10 million landmark exhibition will be a fitting and living tribute to Sir Peter Blake. It will be a significant infrastructural asset for Auckland. It will substantially add to the Maritime Museum and will provide a boost to local tourism.

“It is a unique one-off opportunity for the City to have significant new investment in the Maritime Museum and the viaduct area, funded 80 percent by a third party,” said Mr Banks. NZL32, the 1995 America’s Cup winning yacht, was recently gifted to Te Papa.

Designed by Auckland architect Pete Bossley, the structure to house NZL32 will consist of large concrete pillars secured in the seabed surrounded by coloured and textured glass to reflect the sea and sky environment.

Access to this new wing will be via a dynamic and interactive exhibition space. It will consist of a number of sections, each telling the story of a particular period in Sir Peter’s life: His early years, the sportsman and leader, the Whitbread Round the World races, the NZL32 story, Sir Peter the explorer and environmentalist.

Auckland City Council’s financial commitment to the tribute would begin and end with the payment of four equal instalments, over four years. Te Papa and the Maritime Museum are identified as the project partners, with running costs to be split between them.

In addition to providing the Maritime Museum with extra revenue the Sir Peter Blake tribute will form an important feature of its educational programmes. It is estimated that in excess of 120,000 visitors will view the tribute each year.

This is the first time Te Papa will be involved in the development of a permanent exhibition outside of Wellington, which will carry the national museum’s brand.

Te Papa has funded the development of the proposal to date. The City’s $2 million plus GST contribution will be put to combined committees for full council ratification next month.

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