Costs Climb For Restoration Of Historic Tasman Wharf

Thursday, 10 April 2025, 7:05 pm
Article: Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter

Planning work for the restoration of Motueka’s historic wharf is progressing well but funding it might be a challenge.

The stone wharf is disintegrating but the group tasked with restoring the structure has achieved its first milestone: lodging an application with Heritage New Zealand for an archaeological authority.

Heritage NZ lists the wharf as a Category 2 historic place and the authority is needed before any work is done on the wharf.

“Within the month now, we should hear back from them as to if, hopefully, they’ll accept it,” said restoration group chair Isobel Mosley.

Provided the application is approved, the group’s next focus is to determine if they needed a resource consent for the work, but current indications suggested that one might not be needed.

“That’s the next thing to check out, and then it’s basically fundraising.”

But the cost of the project is increasing.

A 2019 estimate put the cost at $211,000. A quantity surveyor is currently determining a revised figure, but current estimates are more than $300,000.

Almost $102,000 has already been confirmed through a mixture of grants, donations, and council funding.

Lottery Environment and Heritage funding is hoped to cover the bulk of the remaining cost, with the group planning to apply for a grant before the next round closes in August.

“We’re hoping that they might provide half the project fund, maybe. If that’s the case, then hopefully it won’t take too long to get the rest of the money together.”

Some Tasman District Council staff and Motueka Community Board members are part of the restoration group.

However, a recent indication that more council funds – about $25–50,000 – would likely be needed in the next financial year rocked the boat at last month’s community board meeting.

Though the board agreed to support allocating the funds in principle, councillor Brent Maru said it would be a “hard push” to find the funding once next year’s annual plan was being developed.

Mosley said it was important that the project was completed soon.

“The sooner that it’s done, the lower the risk of some storms coming and disintegrating the thing further and doubling the cost of repair.”

It was also a much-wanted project, she said, with 93 per cent of survey respondents indicating that they want the wharf restored.

She described the wharf as the “number one” tourist attraction in Motueka, thanks in part to its position overlooking the wreck of the Janie Seddon, and was a popular stopping point for visitors through the town.

Additionally, with a walking path around the front of the beach and plenty of picnic tables nearby, “there’s always people down there.”

The restoration group was hoping some local businesses would be able to contribute to the project in-kind and was always taking donations.

You can donate to the project here.

Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

© Scoop Media

Local Democracy Reporting

Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner.