Projected image of the Fale Malae Trust cultural centre Photo: Fale Malae Trust
The Wellington City Council has voted to approve the transfer of waterfront land to the Fale Malae Trust for a new Waterfront Pasifika cultural centre. The Trust's goal is to promote and share New Zealand's Pacific heritage.
Sixteen councillors voted in favour of the land transfer, with one against. The land transfer will take the form of a long-term lease.
Trust board member, Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban said this was a critical vote.
"For us, we could not progress the project, without getting the 'land transfer' approval from the Wellington City Council. You can imagine, there's a lot of work that happens behind the scenes, with the administration, with the Mayor, the Councillors, and just making sure all the boxes are ticked."
Dame Winnie Laban. Photo: RNZ/Denver Grenell
Luamanuvao said that the 11 September vote was a "critical outcome" for the Trust's project. She also said that of the 70 submissions regarding the Trust's resource consent application at least 67 were favour of the project.
"So a final decision on resource consent will probably come in December."
The Trust suffered a financial setback earlier this year, when the Government ended its financial support.
The Budget of 2020 had allocated $10 million to the Trust, and only $2.7 million had been spent - but the Government has since reallocated the remaining funds to other arts projects.
Luamanuvao said that the overall cost of the cultural centre project will probably be about $40 million.
"Raising the capital will mean re-engaging with the Government, A business case is being prepared for that purpose, to attempt to secure additional Government investment in the project.
The Trust's next step will be engaging with philanthropic groups, communities and other stakeholders in order to secure the funds necessary to complete the cultural centre."
