Mr Richard Smart of The New Zealand Hundertwasser Foundation addressed the Council, and here is part of his presentation:

“The Hundertwasser Foundation is Hundertwasser’s Foundation to whom he has left in his last will all his intellectual and material possessions.

“As the holders of the rights to the name and work of Hundertwasser we have been convinced by the integrity of Mark and Kahu who visited Vienna, who instead of predicting or speculating about the future, express their intention to create the future for Whangarei by coming back to the ideas of an art centre in the building that Hundertwasser has personally created a design for in the past. …

“We also offer the commercial concept for the successful operation that will be in striving to cover costs of operation and generate profit. Therefore, we have got the museum’s shop which will deal information and documentation material on Hundertwasser as well as merchandising and objects by Hundertwasser which are internationally distributed, sold, and are also presented in Vienna, Austria in his museum shop in the KunstHaus Wien. The museum shop is an important profit centre.

“Into Hundertwasser’s design we have integrated the coffee-restaurant which should give the impetus for a social centre for people to meet, to stay, to rest and to enjoy the unique view. This restaurant should not serve only the visitors, but also the people of Whangarei and tourists who do not necessarily have to access the museum in order to enjoy a meal, a snack or a drink at the Hundertwasser Art Centre Coffee-Restaurant, which could become a social, popular meeting spot.

“Furthermore, as an act of love and respect the Foundation agreed to provide free of charge the architectural design of a Hundertwasser architecture as well as to organise and provide most of the exhibits without a fee which would be the norm.

“In other words the Foundation is providing a gift of economic assets to the Council of Whangarei.

“Hundertwasser’s art, architecture, ecological and environmental concerns are internationally respected, known, and cherished. The millions of books distributed and bought all over the world which are continuing and increasing after his death are witness to the validity of his art and his philosophy. His architectures are visited by millions of people as well. …

“This Hundertwasser Centre will be photographed, filmed and reproduced by the print and electronic media, by tourists and visitors and be published on local and international art pages of newspapers, magazines and television. This represents an advertisement value of many millions, yes billions over the years. It will carry and distribute the name of Whangarei and the Hundertwasser Art Centre to millions of spectators, readers, and people who would never ever heard about Whangarei, who have never been to New Zealand. …”

In conclusion, Mr Smart recounted “the story of a small minor city in Spain, much like Whangarei which had a mayor who had the vision and the courage to take responsibility for a better future, his wish for a meaningful cultural centre. This capable and courageous mayor came to an agreement the New York based Guggenheim Museum who commissioned the visionary architect Frank Gehry to build an art centre in the little town called Bilbao. There is hardly any person in the world who does not know the Guggenheim of Bilbao, both by its spectacular building, and for the important exhibitions for which the Guggenheim are responsible. The obligation of the city by taking a loan from the banks against the City Council’s approval by the mayor alone turned out to be the cheapest and best investment ever done by any city in Spain. They have returned the investment from the soaring income of thousands and thousands of tourists to Bilbao within a short time. Not to mention the indirect benefits by development of hotels, pensions, restaurants, and souvenir ships, and all other infrastructure.

“So this is not something new what Whangarei decided to do. There are proven and successful predecessors of such an idea. This is not an experiment.”

Where we all agree is that the old NRC building is the key for creating a unique destination for Whangarei. For me, the Hundertwasser Art Centre is the only proposal that fits the bill.