Greg McKeown: A handy wilderness experience that's too good to miss

COMMENT

The Native Forest Restoration Trust has done a creditable job in putting Kaikoura Island on the map.

But the case for buying the island gains its strength not from the interests of any single group. It threads together several concepts, including conservation, education, youth development, volunteerism and natural and cultural heritage, including a tribute to Sir Peter Blake.

While Kaikoura as a project stands on its own, there are nevertheless good links with Sir Peter's life. It lies off the coast of Great Barrier Island, which was described by Sir Peter as probably his favourite island, and which captures the on-the-edge feeling that characterised so much of what the great sailor and environmentalist did.

With some facilities in place, an Outward Bound-type camp - the Blake experience - could be up and running on Kaikoura in relatively little time.

Then there is the tie-up to the question of NZL32, the America's Cup-winning yacht that Sir Peter gifted to Te Papa. The national museum would like to display the boat in Auckland in partnership with National Maritime Museum.

Te Papa's proposed glass box is one option for NZL32. Architects are reviewing the design of the building, which represents the bulk of the $10 million cost. The architects' task is not easy. I tend to agree with the many yachties who think the glass-box idea is fundamentally flawed. The plan to lop off the top of the yacht's mast to fit it into the glass box seems absurd. The yacht's design, including the mast height, contributed to its success on the water. It simply does not make sense.

But, as noted by the Herald, the Team New Zealand base at the Viaduct Harbour offers an alternative that may be practical and financially sensible, and is fit for the purpose in a design sense.

Developing this option could still involve a partnership between Te Papa and the National Maritime Museum on two sites within a stone's throw of each other. Included would be the interactive exhibits envisaged by Te Papa that capture not only the adventure of Sir Peter's yachting life, but also his work as an environmentalist.

Thinking beyond these spaces supports another leg to the argument for Kaikoura and an extended involvement for the maritime museum. Consider three Auckland success stories - the Stardome, the Auckland Zoo and Tiritiri Matangi.

Over the past 30 years the zoo has transformed itself to become not only a better tourist attraction, but a conservation and education service provider. The new Te Papa-National Maritime Museum could likewise extend its thinking from one of building-bound displays to a living experience on Kaikoura Island.

Tiritiri Matangi is an open sanctuary success story that can be told again on Kaikoura. Volunteer groups, including schools, have planted more than 250,000 trees on the smaller island. Mammalian predators have been removed and endangered birds introduced and bred successfully. It is a reserve that points toward what Kaikoura could become.

The Stardome attracts about 30,000 school visitors a year, and the Government provides funding through the Ministry of Education's learning experiences outside the classroom programme. A school learning experience at the new Te Papa-National Maritime Museum and Kaikoura could be supported by the same programme.

So the opportunity exists to create a sanctuary that can be the Auckland equivalent of the Karori wildlife sanctuary and Kapiti Island reserve, where the local and endangered species are bred to repopulate surrounding areas.

The benefits and value are so broad that ongoing development and operational funding is justifiable from several sources.

New Zealand is a world centre of seabird diversity, and Kaikoura would provide an opportunity to establish new colonies for threatened species, as well as becoming a breeding sanctuary for many natives.

Islands provide an advantage for breeding programmes and pest control. Furthermore, a programme on Kaikoura would provide an incentive to eradicate pests on Great Barrier, where the Department of Conservation has large holdings. Other benefits for Great Barrier might include the re-establishment of more regular ferry services.

The argument that Kaikoura is too far away is nonsense. Many school trips head off to National Park, and some even go overseas. We can make Great Barrier and Kaikoura more accessible to more New Zealanders and there's enough work to be done to make the project relevant for decades.

Great Barrier Island and Kaikoura offer a remote wilderness and island experience quite different from the inner Hauraki Gulf islands. The alternative of letting island assets such as Kaikoura fall into international ownership and become the private playgrounds of a few wealthy individuals should have no carry with the Government and regional and local councils.

Sir John Logan Campbell had a vision for Maungakiekie while much of the surrounding land was still rural. Today we should collectively hold out a vision for the islands of the gulf.

Fortunately, the possibility of several organisations being involved was well captured in the unanimously passed June resolutions of the Auckland City Council to "support a study of potential uses of Kaikoura Island ... noting that this could provide options to link potential uses with the establishment of the Te Papa and National Maritime Museum partnership and other organisations".

* Greg McKeown is an Auckland City councillor.