Queens Wharf in the 1890s, with easy connection to Queen St. File photo / NZ Herald

Queens Wharf in the 1890s, with easy connection to Queen St. File photo / NZ Herald

The Government and the Auckland Regional Council took an enlightened initiative in June this year, acquiring Queens Wharf for restoration and use as a cruise ship terminal and party central for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The Auckland City Council responded within 72 hours of the announcement, approving a budget of $84 million to convert the existing 97-year-old sheds - opting for restoration instead of building new a basic terminal for $112 million or an iconic terminal for $144 million.

Encouragingly, all three levels of government joined in partnership to quickly come up with a scheme to be implemented within an affordable budget and in time for the great event.

Afterwards a design competition was launched with a new lower budget of $47 million, and 4 months later there are eight final designs to choose from.

There are still important functional issues not yet resolved: None of these designs address the issue of operating two cruise ships across the wharf (part of the ARC's brief). Only one seriously addresses the issue of shelter for the 20,000 anticipated cup revellers.

Many propose ambitious and attractive plans to erode the wharf edges to create urban beaches, add jetties for small craft including waka, extend the ferry terminal, and provide huge areas of paving and landscape features.

But are any capable of meeting time and budget constraints? Most importantly, does any one of them embody a clear vision that can be recognised by New Zealanders as a worthy projection of our country to the world in September 2011, and then beyond?

There has been widespread criticism, and now Mike Lee and John Banks have both publicly recognised the competition has been a flop, it is certainly time to pause for thought.

Everyone senses this is the key site. We were all excited when we saw those old photographs and realised that the wharf was once part and parcel of Queen Street.

The competition has heightened public awareness about the potential of the wharf.

Every New Zealander craves a national icon like the Sydney Opera House, and this site at centre of both the city and harbour is pivotal. Much is now riding on the outcome.

The purpose of an open design competition was presumably to achieve something beyond the norm, outside the box, a vision which everybody can get behind and push forward.