Expo centre finally gets a new name

LAWRENCE GULLERY
Hastings has finally given a new name to its exhibition centre while Napier marches ahead with its $15 million plan to redevelop the Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery.
The Hastings District Council's community services committee ticked off a decision to rename the exhibition centre the Hastings Art Gallery this week.
The decision comes after more than six months of debate on the centre's name and whether a new one should incorporate a Maori name, English name, or both.
Te Toi Ararau, which means the many strands of Toi, the God of art, would be used for the wider civic centre arts precinct which the council planned with Ngati Kahungunu in coming years.
The Hastings Art Gallery name was applauded by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, the director of Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery, who updated the committee on Napier City Council's plans to upgrade the museum.
Hastings councillors gave a lukewarm reception to the museum design plans which included a new glass square structure which would front the museum facing Marine Parade.
Mr Jenkins said they were only preliminary designs and firmer plans would be released. He would present them to the council later this year.
Other work at the museum included a revamp of the basement, which would allow collections to be stored in a central area under controlled temperature and humidity conditions.
Mr Jenkins said the collection was stored in borderline conditions at the moment and staff were expected to work in tight, small spaces.
The upgrade would solve these problems and also set aside areas for people to view collection pieces, something which was difficult at the moment.
The Art Deco Louis Hay building would be restored to its 1930s glory and the Century Theatre, built in the 1970s, would be restored in Art Deco fashion as well.
Fundraising for the development would begin this year and construction would start in the 2009/10 year.
The museum buildings were owned by the Napier City Council but the collection was owned by the people of Hawke's Bay and governed by a cultural trust, Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott said.
The trust included Mrs Arnott, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana, and chairman of the Friends of Hawkes Bay Cultural Trust, Marc Nel.
Mrs Arnott said Central Hawke's Bay, Wairoa and Hawke's Bay regional councils would also be updated on the museum plans.
"We will be putting the final version, after the working drawings are completed, out for general publication," she said.
A website would also be set up to show details of the project.