Blake display backers stay firm despite opposition

By CLAIRE TREVETT

Supporters of a memorial for Sir Peter Blake at the Viaduct Harbour are determined to forge ahead, despite hefty public opposition.

In a public relations push yesterday, the family of Sir Peter, the head of Te Papa museum and Auckland Mayor John Banks voiced their support for the project - a glass structure housing America's Cup-winning NZL32 on Princes Wharf and an exhibition on Sir Peter's life in the nearby Maritime Museum.

"The proposed exhibition is a wonderful tribute to the life and work of Peter," Sir Peter's widow, Lady Pippa Blake, said. "It is appropriate that NZL32 is a part of the exhibition as it was Peter's wish that it be displayed as a permanent tribute to the nation's success in winning the America's Cup in 1995."

The statements came after growing public unease at the cost of the $10 million glass structure.

It also came after vociferous public support, through letters, emails and phone calls to the Herald after columnist Brian Rudman asked whether buying Kaikoura Island in the Hauraki Gulf might be a more fitting tribute to Sir Peter, the yachtsman-turned-environmentalist murdered by pirates in the Amazon.

TV One and TV3 polls found overwhelming support for Kaikoura Island over the museum.

Backers of the memorial liaised with the Blake family this week and decided they remained fully in support of the project.

Te Papa, which owns NZL32, and the Blake family said the idea of "naming Kaikoura Island after Sir Peter was a wonderful gesture ... but it would not tell the inspiring story of Sir Peter Blake for schoolchildren, families and visitors to Auckland that the exhibition will do, for many years."

It was not expected that there would be any extra charge to enter the Blake exhibition over the standard $12 entry for adults and $6 for children to the Maritime Museum.

Money for the glass structure will come from the Government ($2.5 million), Auckland City ($2 million) and fundraising and sponsors ($5.5 million).

Te Papa communications director Paul Brewer said there could be minor alterations to the proposal. "We're looking at whether there need to be modifications, either for visual or strengthening purposes."

He said Sir Peter's family had raised concerns about the cost of the project, so Te Papa would look at ways to trim costs without compromising the standard of the exhibition.

While it depended on the success of Te Papa in raising the extra $5.5 million, the estimated completion date of 2005 still stood.

Te Papa's chief executive, Dr Seddon Bennington, said reaction from potential sponsors in New Zealand and overseas had been "positive".

The Maritime Museum and Te Papa would cover any future costs, including maintenance and upgrading of exhibits.

Mr Brewer said the exhibit would stand the test of time.

"The NZL32 story is around that extraordinary campaign ... Despite the fact the cup was lost recently, it's still part of our history ... That's the challenge for us, in terms of making it an exciting, interactive experience."

Close family friend Don Robertson said the Kaikoura Island proposal was wonderful but would not do justice to Sir Peter.

"I'm just absolutely flabbergasted as to why you'd have an island with trees and lizards, and how that would reflect Peter's life. It leaves me bamboozled.

"It would just be the best way in the world to forget about Peter Blake, to put him out there on Kaikoura Island."

Former Team New Zealand director and Blake mentor Sir Tom Clark earlier lambasted the museum proposal, saying the "glass box" would be "covered in salt all day, every day" and Sir Peter would "turn in his grave" at the plan.

Yesterday he said he did not wish to comment.

Mr Banks said it was time people stopped doing a "rain dance" about the proposal so Te Papa's chances of raising the funds were not jeopardised.

The Mayor said the family's support for the project would help Te Papa get the finance needed and had rescued it from a "deliberate campaign to scuttle it launched by the New Zealand Herald".

"I'm committed to the glass case, but if there's design changes around the margins then I can live with it."

Mr Banks was unrepentant about promising $2 million of Auckland City money to the project, despite concerns raised by City Vision, Labour and Team Auckland councillors that it had not gone to a full council meeting and no other options had been discussed.