Endeavour to attract funding to build new ship models rejected

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The first port of call has failed in Gisborne District Council’s attempt to gain funding to have new Endeavour models built and installed.

Contracts and asset manager Garrett Blair yesterday told the council’s community development and services committee that a funding application to the New Zealand Lotteries Commission to build new models had been rejected.

In March the committee decided to “take ownership” of the controversial Endeavour models issue and voted to seek (non-council) funding and partners to have Endeavour models rebuilt and reinstated.

At that meeting, model supporter Martin Kibble said aluminium Endeavour models, computer-designed and costed by boat builder Rex Briant of White Pointer Boats, could possibly be built by Christmas.The aluminium models have been costed at $27,000.

Committee chairman Andy Cranston had earlier said wooden components of the original 1969 models were “like Weet-Bix” and repairing them was not an option.

Mr Blair said the Lotteries Commission did not consider the models to be within the scope of lottery funding.

The council would apply to “someone like Eastland Community Trust”.

But that had not been done yet.

Shannon Dowsing asked if the application to the Lotteries Commission should have been presented in the guise of public art.

Mr Blair said that was done, but the commission considered the Endeavours to be models, not public art.