City to Sea bridge campaign unleashes star power

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

A Hollywood A-lister and one of New Zealand’s best loved actors is bringing some star power to the fight to save Wellington’s City to Sea bridge

In a letter opposing its demolition Kiwi actor Sam Neill says he is “outraged” by the decision, slammed as an “utterly shameful piece of vandalism”.

“The Civic Square is an invaluable focus, the very heart of perhaps the best city centre in New Zealand. The most precious part of it all is this bridge.

“It is a rare thing of beauty, a work of art, completely practical and, unlikeliest of all, perhaps the most fun thing in our capital,“ Neill, who lived in Wellington in the 80s, said.

“It is a cultural taonga, collaborative piece which involved some of our most important Maori artists (Para Matchitt, Matt Pine, and weaver Toi Te Rito Maihi) and Pakeha creative spirits, one of whom was, of course, Ian Athfield, New Zealand’s greatest ever architect.

“This is the same kind of mediocre thinking that ensured that another of Ath's projects, a collaboration with the world’s leading architect Frank Gehry, for a National Museum, never got a look in. We could have got something to match the Sydney Opera house. Instead we got …Te Papa.

“I am outraged that any council, fit to call itself a council, would even contemplate not saving this beautiful bridge, for now and forever.”

Wellington City councillors voted earlier this month to fast-track the demolition of the bridge, which connects the capital's waterfront and Te Ngākau Civic Square Civic Square, with work expected to start in January.

Today councillor Iona Pannett put an amendment to the council​'s long-term plan committee that demolition of the City to Sea Bridge be halted with the funds saved earmarked in case strengthening the bridge if possible.

Committee chairperson Rebecca Matthews ruled Pannett's amendment out of order because it negated the decision of an earlier committee meeting.

The council says the bridge is an earthquake risk, and to make it structurally sound would cost around $85m. The cost to demolish and do other work, such as install a pedestrian crossing, was estimated at around $36.5m.

Meanwhile campaigners are also gearing up to fight the decision in court, and a warning has been fired off to the council’s incoming chief executive.

Matt Prosser, chief executive of Dorset Council, was recently named to succeed Barbara McKerrow as Wellington City Council chief executive. While he won’t be in the role until next year Prosser is already privy to the controversy surrounding the bridge following correspondence from civil engineer Alex Gray, a leading opponent of its planned demolition.

“I thought it was fair to warn him of the potential issue with demolishing the bridge in case he arrived to a hornet's nest of problems,” Gray said.

The letter outlined concerns around “significant flaws” with the consultation process, including a lack of financial detail about strengthening costs, the timing of the release of a report that showed seismic risks had been overstated, and claims that certain independent structures were interconnected.

“I am sure the departing CEO will brief you on various issues before she leaves,” Gray wrote. “Please ensure she briefs you on the bridge issue and any legal issues that might arise”.

Prosser replied four days later, noting that while he would not start his new role until sometime in April, he would have a full induction programme of briefing on key issues, decisions taken and decisions to be taken, when he did.

“I have therefore passed your email back to Wellington, in case there is an issue that requires a response before I arrive from the UK, and so that a briefing is provided as part of my arrival,” Prosser added.

Neill, who just over a year ago revealed he had stage-three blood cancer, is currently in Otago where he owns Two Paddocks winery after spending time in Vancouver, filming the yet-to be released murder mystery television series Untamed for Netflix.