Have your say: Missing million

Another letter to the Northern Advocate editor.

For information on the cruise ship industry, I refer Neil Crowther to the Economic Impact of the New Zealand Cruise Sector 2014 report, which Prosper Northland Trust included in its submission. Neil will find it on the YesWhangarei website.

For 2015-16, Bay of Plenty (Tauranga and Rotorua) is forecast to benefit from the cruising industry by $40.5 million - up from $37.7 million in 2013-14. Paihia (Northland) is forecast $28.7 million (up from $20.7 million in 2013-14). Whangarei misses out.

The cruise ship market is expanding. The Hundertwasser and Wairau Maori Art Centre (HWMAC) is expected to be sufficient to attract cruise ships as a "point of difference".
That will not happen with the harbourside proposal.

In reply to John Nickless, one million overseas visitors are already passing Whangarei per annum.

We have nothing exceptional in Whangarei for them to stop for during their travels to the Bay of Islands.

The HWMAC's interesting/inspiring architecture, plus Hundertwasser's loaned artwork and the gallery of significant Maori artists, is the attraction for 8 per cent of them to turn off SH1, at least briefly, plus 1.5 per cent of domestic travellers. Harbourside won't have that attraction.

As to cost to the council, its building contribution is capped at $2.8 million. The rest is raised privately as a gift to the community. An indemnity will cover any trading losses for 10 years.

Harbourside, howevewr, will cost the ratepayers $900,000 per annum.

A stark difference.

Ian Reeves (PNT Trustee)
Whangarei

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