28 July 2005

New Nelson Museum gets $100,000 government grant

Tourism Minister Mark Burton has announced a $100,000 Tourism Facilities Grant for the development of interactive displays for the new Nelson Provincial Museum.

Mr Burton, who was in Nelson today to make a keynote address to the Inbound Tourism Operators Council conference, visited the museum to present the cheque for $100,000.

The grant is in addition to the $1.117 million grant for the project received from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage announced last year.

Founded in 1841, the Nelson Provincial Museum is New Zealand's oldest museum. It was formerly housed in Isel Park. Construction of a new home for the museum on the former Hotel Nelson site on the corner of Hardy and Trafalgar Streets is due to be opened on 22 October 2005 - the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar

Displays for the new museum will incorporate stories and objects as well as interactive aspects, Mark Burton said.

The funding would help develop these interactive components, Mark Burton said.

"Interactive displays will enhance the atmosphere and educational value of the museum which is well aligned with Nelson's Cultural Tourism Development Plan and appeals to the "Interactive Traveller" –New Zealand's ideal visitor."

Visitor nights in the Nelson/Tasman region are expected to increase by 1.8 million to 4.8 million by 2010.

Those visitors were expected to bring $649 million a year by 2010 – representing 57.5 per cent growth

Planning for the proposed regional facility for the storage of collections, archives and library material for the region, as well as the celebrated Tyree Photographic Collection is now underway by the Trust, which was a condition of the grant from Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

The new Museum will be a valuable addition to the rich variety of cultural tourism attractions on offer for visitors to the Nelson region," Mark Burton said. It will provide an opportunity for the region to celebrate and share its unique stories, lore and icons through using the museum as a gateway/waharoa to regional museum in Nelson, Tasman and also Marlborough.

The Tourism Facilities Grants Programme aims to enhance overseas visitors' understanding and enjoyment of New Zealand through increasing the quality and number of nationally significant tourism facilities.

ENDS

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