It was a pleasure to see the number of people flowing through Te Ahu and enjoying the facilities.
"It is a meeting place of great historical significance for tangata whenua," Mr Slade said.
"Like the other members of the large team who believed in the vision and helped put this facility together, I am grateful and honoured to have been a part of it.
"Long may this ship of Te Ahu sail on this river on which we have placed the atrium with its competent and proven captain/manager Mark Osborne.
"There are many people to thank for this facility, one of them being then Mayor Wayne Brown, who stepped in to take control of the project when things were reaching a confused and critical situation. Wayne's management and experience ensured the project's completion on budget, or what was left of it, with local contractors.
"Wayne allowed me to design the atrium, and with Richard Murray's graphic skills we produced the plan with seven carved pou and the stingray floor," he added.
"Local architects Doug Beard, Joey Parsonson and Alan Simpkin put the nuts and bolts together, with Alan's entrance and Doug's amazing glasswork. With our builder John Whitlow and his team of craftsmen, overseen by engineers Haig Workman, of Kerikeri, it all materialised."
Among the most valued friends and supporters was the late Phil Cross, who had done his very best for the project, and the museum in particular.
"Without him to champion the heritage component I can only hope his role is not undervalued or forgotten," Mr Slade said. "I know this may be just history now, but (completion) was a big day for me and some of my team in that we had completed a reasonable amount of carving and artwork to meet the specialised requirements of whakapapa and kaupapa of the seven peoples, with no problems that could not be resolved," he added,
"I must thank my wife Louise for constantly standing me upright and doing her best to support this project.
"All our local business people have been supportive, especially the Placemakers team. Thank you for transporting six of the completed pou to the atrium with much skill and care, and not a single mishap.
"Chris Spanhake, Resene Colorshop, Brakes Colourplus, Stihl Shop Kaitaia, the famous Joe Oliver and his engineering genius, Carl Garton (Kaitaia Hire Centre), Paul and Belinda (Signs of Life) and many others who handled constant begging for favours without throwing me out the door, thank you.
"We have a great collection of good people in our community, with many skills and abilities, who are not fully appreciated until a need or cause presents itself."
