Movie museum 'Plan B' in the works as Sir Peter Jackson continues to stall plans

Friday, 1 December 2017

A drawing of the proposed $150m movie museum and convention centre, drawing inspiration from Wellington's position as the head of Maui's fish: Te Upoko o te Ika.

An alternative use for Wellington's proposed movie museum is being developed as fears mount that Sir Peter Jackson's delays could see the project fall over.

Ongoing delays while Jackson finalises his fitout plan has led to the creation of a plan 'B' and calls from Wellington's Chamber of Commerce to move on without the movie mogul.

Sir Peter Jackson with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, an item from his movie collection that was expected to be housed in the Movie Museum in Wellington.

When the construction of a $150 million combined convention centre and movie museum was announced in December 2015, it was hailed as a potential game-changer for Wellington's economy.

It was tipped for completion in 2018. But two years later, work still hasn't started on the three-storey building on Cable and Wakefield streets.

Construction of the movie museum and convention centre, on Cable St and Wakefield St has been delayed.

Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor, who own The Movie Museum Limited, with a creature and weapon from Heavenly Creatures movie that would be in the museum.

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Designers believed the movie museum would sell Wellington in the same way as the Opera House does for Sydney.

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* Wellington movie museum, convention centre to get green light from council**

An arrtist's impression of the proposed convention centre and movie museum, as seen from Wakefield St.

Wellington City Council is paying for the new building, while The Movie Museum Limited (TMML), run by Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor, is funding the museum fitout, which is to feature Jackson's extensive collection of movie memorabilia.

But it is understood plans are now afoot looking at other options for the building to complement the convention centre, which already has provisional bookings.

A hotel has been mooted, but it is understood the planners would prefer a more exciting option.

The original project was expected to contribute $36m a year to the Wellington economy and attract about 350,000 visitors annually.

The council said in 2015 that if the convention centre did not go ahead, the city risked losing 17 per cent of that market, which equated to $24m in lost business.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Milford said the city's economy was suffering as a result of the delay and construction of the convention centre should start without the movie museum.

'We are at a point where a decision needs to be made to start the project. A movie museum would be a fantastic outcome but we are suffering without the convention centre and need to make the call to move on without it for the sake of the convention centre,' he said.

'We will be disappointed if there is no movie museum but but we are falling behind. New convention centres in Auckland and Christchurch are getting ahead of us and we have got to get moving.'

The city council refused to comment on the prospect of continuing without the movie museum.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said the council had completed its part of the deal and was 'good to go'.

The project, which has been more than a decade in the making, has been mired in delay as the interior plans have been developed, and there are concerns the cost to ratepayers could rise as the vision grows.

It is understood Jackson's attention is focused elsewhere and the plans, needed for the resource consent, are still not finished.

When asked about the reason for delay, and if there was a timeframe for Jackson's designs, a TMML spokesman said it did not have any new updates or comments.

In September, it looked as if the movie museum was one step closer to becoming reality when the first environmental resource consent was lodged, with the final consent was expected soon after.

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency interim chief executive Derek Fry said staff were already dealing with clients excited to be among the first events booked at the new convention centre.

'The sooner we see it rising from the ground, and can put some firm bookable dates on the table for them, the better for Wellington.'

The growing conference industry was going to have a challenging time in Wellington, until the city had the venues to make the most of its potential.