Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Big backing for Hundertwasser

By Lindy Laird
Northern Advocate·
20 May, 2015 07:30 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Saatchi & Saatchi boss Kevin Roberts says yes to Hundertwasser. Photo / Supplied

Saatchi & Saatchi boss Kevin Roberts says yes to Hundertwasser. Photo / Supplied

The head of one of the world's most influential advertising and branding agencies says a Hundertwasser-designed arts centre in Whangarei is a no-brainer.

An Auckland-based property developer has also said his company's proposed investment in Whangarei - an upmarket hotel on a Riverside Drive site opposite the Town Basin and currently housing old boat sheds - is "entirely contingent" on the Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Art Centre proposal going ahead.

New York-based executive chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, New Zealander Kevin Roberts said he has no doubts about the value of the proposed development at the Town Basin site.

On his blog, now linked to the YES! website, Mr Roberts said the HWMAC would distinguish Northland on the world stage - "In the process instantly transforming the locale into a tourism magnet."

"City branding does not generally happen overnight, and artistic and economic opportunities like this are rare. This referendum vote is a no-brainer from my perspective," Mr Roberts said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Meanwhile, property developer Andrew Fonagy said "a Hundertwasser win will be the clincher for making a high-end hotel viable in Whangarei".

"I have an option on a significant piece of land in Whangarei, close to town and ideal for top-end accommodation or a similar development," Mr Fonagy said.

"If Hundertwasser is to go ahead, we'll immediately move into the next stage of the due diligence process and be able to confidently continue discussions with our investor groups and hotel operators.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"If it's 'no' to Hundertwasser, there is frankly no point. Whangarei won't have that big concept and destination attraction that investors are looking for and we'll look elsewhere."

Northland Economic Action Group has also put its name where its vote is.

"Whangarei and Northland desperately needs economic growth and additional employment. We need more strings to our bow," chairman Graham Dawson said. "The Hundertwasser project is low hanging fruit in terms of providing an increase in economic activity."

Co-owner of the Riverside Drive site, Ian Moratti, confirmed he and other business interests had been negotiating with developer Andrew Fonagy for some time.

Discover more

HAC comments 'out of context'

24 Apr 06:00 PM

Street parade ahead of council poll

04 May 02:00 AM

Whangarei under colourful art attack

07 May 08:01 PM

Have your say: Daring dream?

11 May 06:00 AM

A Hotel Feasibility Report by Whangarei District Council and the Ngatiwai Trust states Whangarei is not matching other centres in initiatives that encourage private investment.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

The Good Drop: Warehouse, Salvation Army team up for textile recycling

Northern Advocate

Police name person who died in early morning Kaitāia crash

Northern Advocate

Kaipara mayoral hopefuls on rates, museums and what they would do differently


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

The Good Drop: Warehouse, Salvation Army team up for textile recycling
Northern Advocate

The Good Drop: Warehouse, Salvation Army team up for textile recycling

Donors receive a 10% voucher for clothing purchases over $30 as an incentive.

14 Jul 04:00 AM
Police name person who died in early morning Kaitāia crash
Northern Advocate

Police name person who died in early morning Kaitāia crash

14 Jul 02:07 AM
 Kaipara mayoral hopefuls on rates, museums and what they would do differently
Northern Advocate

Kaipara mayoral hopefuls on rates, museums and what they would do differently

14 Jul 12:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP