Timeline of Wairau Māori Art Gallery

1992

Hundertwasser was invited by the mayor of Whangarei Stan G.A. Semenoff in the year 1992 to find a site and to have Hundertwasser’s architecture project for a Whangarei public art gallery.

After visiting the site he made preliminary sketches.

2000 - 2008

Hundertwasser died in the year 2000. In the year 2008 a delegation of the WDC consisting of Mark Simpson and Kahu Sutherland visited in Vienna with the request of a possibility to realise the project as the site was now in possession of the WDC.

Joram Harel, Chair of the Hundertwasser Non-Profit Foundation in Vienna, requested that a Māori art gallery be included in the Hundertwasser Art Centre after seeing Hundertwasser's wish to include a Māori pou at the front of the building.

"...such a space which would guarantee the Maori self-designation and management of their activities of exhibition of Maori artists. The condition was to create a Maori-Advisory-Board which would take the responsibility/directorship to decide what artists should exhibit, about philosophy, activities and anything else that happens inside their space..." said Joram Harel.

"The Maori-Advisory-Board must be totally independent to safeguard their heritage, autonomous and just presentation and activities free of any political or other interference from the WDC, the directorship of the HAC or any other entity. - Joram Harel

August 2012

WDC contracted Elizabeth Hauraki as HAC Campaign Director.

September 2012

Māori Advisory Panel Convened

Sir Patu Hohepa – Kaumatua
Elizabeth Ellis – Chair
Jonathan Mane Wheoki – Board Member (BM)
Allen Wihongi – (BM)
Manos Nathan – (BM)
Lisa Reihana – (BM)
Shane Cotton – (BM)
Ngahiraka Mason – (BM)

2014

In a surprise decision, Whangarei District Council rejected the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery proposal put forward by Prosper Northland Trust with significant funding already in place, in favour of a referendum.

However, the volunteers met and said that in the face of the overwhelming public support they'd come back stronger than ever and pledged to push on with the art centre.

Whangarei public keep working hard to show support for the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery.

5 June 2015

Success! 14,256 (51.01%) voted for the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery project in a FPP binding referendum that had higher voter turnout than the last local body election. The First Past The Post election meant the winner was the single option with the highest number of votes.

“We are thrilled to hear the resounding Ae! (yes!) from Whangarei” says Wairau Māori Advisory Panel chair Elizabeth Ellis. “The community has made a positive choice and we’re so excited about the opportunities this brings to everyone in Whangarei and enthusiasts in New Zealand and around the globe. It’s a brand new arts and culture showcase for the world to admire, here in Te Tai Tokerau.”

Fundraising efforts are underway by the HAC and WMAG

The other options were

Option B: HWMAC – 14,256 (51.01%)
Option C: Demolition – 8,080 (28.91%)
Option A: Harbourside – 5,609 (20.07%)

2 June 2017

Wairau Māori Advisory Board is now incorporated as Wairau Māori Art Gallery Charitable Trust.

14 June 2017

Fundraising targets are met thanks to the effort of the community and funding grants. Northland made it happen! An unprecedented effort by a wholly volunteer organisation.