Voters say no to museum for Tauranga, referendum shows

Cliff Road, Tauranga. Next to the Rose Gardens, where a proposed museum might have been located. Photo/file

Most voters don't want a museum for Tauranga, according to early referendum results.

However, a smaller-than-expected void between the number of voters who do and do not want a museum has surprised the referendum initiator.

Voting closed at midday yesterdayand provisional results showed the city was split 40.6 per cent for and 59.4 per cent against building a museum in the next decade.

Slightly more people approved of Cliff Rd as a potential location over Willow St, but twice as many voters said no to both.

The turnout was just over 30 per cent of registered voters, a little higher than the byelection held in parallel.

Tauranga's deputy mayor, Kelvin Clout, who initiated the referendum, said the initial results were closer than he anticipated.

"I wouldn't propose the museum to be totally off the table, but I do believe there should be significant changes to the current museum proposal."

Clout said although the referendum was non-binding the results will be given serious consideration by elected members.

The preliminary results will be released tomorrow, and final results will be collated and published on Thursday.

The council's final decision on a museum will be made on June 28 when the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan is adopted.

Clout said the referendum's online voting option was a New Zealand first.

"I believe this is the way of the future and will enhance our local government democracy and public engagement," he said.

Museum referendum progress results:
Do you support the Tauranga City Council including a museum in the 2018/2028 Long Term Plan?
No: 16,895
Yes: 11,524

In terms of location of the museum, do you support:
A. Cliff Road?
No: 14,980
Yes: 7528

B. Willow Street?
No: 14,131
Yes: 7300