Sir Peter Jackson critical of Wellington Movie Museum tender process

Wednesday, 6 December 2017

A drawing of the proposed $150m movie museum and convention centre, designed by Studio Pacific Architecture. Sir Peter Jackson says the design and construction should have gone out for open tender.

A perceived lack of transparency surrounding the construction and design of Wellington's Movie Museum and Convention Centre is a key concern behind Sir Peter Jackson's threats to pull out of the project.

The movie mogul launched a scathing attack on Wellington City Council for not putting the contracts out for tender, and questioning whether ratepayer money was being used efficiently.

Sir Peter Jackson with his Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car - one of the items that was set to be part his movie collection in the Movie Museum.

'We have never understood why the design contract was awarded to Studio Pacific [Architecture] without tender, and are concerned, both as project partners and Wellington ratepayers, that this is going to happen again. We feel it would be wise to tender this process,' he said in a letter to councillors on Tuesday.

In August last year Stuff reported the construction of the $150 million movie museum would not be put out to tender, because of an earlier deal agreed with developer Willis Bond.

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

* Wellington City Council is not putting $150m movie museum contract out to tender**

'There appears to be no tendering process on either the design or construction of the building, and this seems contradictory to the most efficient use of public money,' Jackson said in the letter, on behalf of The Movie Museum Limited (TMML), signed by Jackson, Sir Richard Taylor, Fran Walsh and Tania Rodger.

'Given the close ties between WCC and Willis Bond in the arrangement to secure land, we feel transparency regarding any obligations attached to this contract are clearly of interest to all parties involved. To date, our request for a copy of the contract have gone unanswered,' the letter says.

Under an agreement, the council would pay for the new building, while TMML would fund the museum fitout, and feature Jackson's extensive collection of movie memorabilia.

There are repeated requests in the letter for TTML to have more say over design.

The letter also raises concern that TMML is expected to pay project management and consultancy costs to Willis Bond if they collaborate in the fitout, and understands the council intends to use Willis Bond's sister company, LT McGuinness, as the primary construction contractor.

It is understood there is some dismay at the city council about why Jackson would bring up his concerns now, when it was too late to change.

Council spokesman Richard MacLean said: 'We reiterate the points that we made in August 2016 in terms of the rationale for not tendering the project.

'We also point out that TMML was involved from an early stage in decisions about the design of the building and the choice of architects, construction firm and other details.'

Last year the council's decision not to tender came under criticism from property developers and some city councillors, who believed a lack of competition would mean ratepayers might not get value for money.

At the time Wellington Mayor Justin Lester, who was then deputy mayor, said that, without Willis Bond, there would be no museum, because the council would not have been able to acquire the land. It was a 'partnership or nothing deal'.

On Wednesday, Lester said he and Lavery had briefed councillors and senior officials.

'We have reached out to Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor. We are looking forward to meeting with them at their earliest convenience.

'We are continuing to have ongoing discussions with senior members of their negotiation team. This is an exciting venture for Wellington, and we plan to explore every option available.'

Willis Bond said it was not for the company to comment. It was an issue for the council.

Studio Pacific Architecture also referred all requests for comment back to the council.

Wellington developer Mark Dunajtschik said he believed the construction should have gone out to tender on the open market, and be 'open to normal competition'.

Simply using a quantity surveyor estimate of price was wrong because it was not realistic, he said.

* Wellington City Council has since clarified its comments about TMML being involved from an early stage in decisions about the building design, architect choice, construction firm and other details with the following statement: 'We agree that Sir Peter Jackson, Sir Richard Taylor, Fran Walsh and Tania Rodger were not party to the choosing of the architects and construction firm for the museum.'