$1.4m plan aims to boost tourism in Far North

Plans for a $1.4 million redevelopment in Kawakawa township based on the area's association with international artist and architect Frederick Hundertwasser are expected to boost the local economy and Northland's tourist industry.

A Hundertwasser Centre and a wetland with an ecological and art emphasis are included in a concept proposal designed and researched by art and museum consultant Ken Gorbey, of Wellington.

Mr Gorbey's report, sought by the Kawakawa Community Trust, said the Hundertwasser image had "extraordinary implications" that could lead to the rebirth of Kawakawa.

The project has been designed to capitalise on the town's relationship with the Austrian-born artist and the public toilets he designed and helped to build in Kawakawa five years ago, shortly before his death in February 2000.

Also part of the concept is the nearby Hundertwasser farm, recognition of Kawakawa's historic origins as a coal-mining centre and an established tourist image as the town where railway lines run down the middle of the main street.

The Vienna-based Hundertwasser Foundation, which administers the artist's estate, has endorsed the Kawakawa project but foundation president Joram Harel says its support is subject to backing and involvement by New Zealand government ministries of tourism, culture and education, as well as support from the Far North District Council.

The foundation has indicated it wants to negotiate on elements relating to Hundertwasser's work, including exhibits, models and copyrights.

Hundertwasser's toilet in Kawakawa is his only architectural work in the Southern Hemisphere and is described as the starting point in Mr Gorbey's report.

The facility was blamed recently for being too smelly and the local community board raised the possibility that it might have to be closed for use as toilets but would remain as a tourist attraction.

Full-time cleaning staff are to be engaged to ensure the toilets are kept open and odour-free and used for the purpose Hundertwasser intended.

Mr Gorbey said the toilets had a growing reputation and had huge potential to bring increasing numbers of visitors.

A small rural railway station in Germany with which Hundertwasser was involved had increased its visitor numbers to more than 400,000 a year as a result of the connection, Mr Gorbey said.

In Kawakawa, a former theatre building is proposed for the Hundertwasser Centre. A central theme would answer common visitor questions about the artist and why he settled in Kawakawa. Hundertwasser's boat, La Giudecca, would be on permanent display.

Land behind the toilets had already been identified as suitable for a wetland environment. Incorporating art and ecology, the wetland area could become a major art work itself, Mr Gorbey believes.

The Far North council has endorsed the strategy outlined in Mr Gorbey's report and will help fund further research.

An independent joint working party is to be set up to advance the concept.

Far North Mayor Yvonne Sharp said the report had visitor industry implications for the entire Northland region.

She said the proposed budget of $1.4 million should be well within reach if the private sector, government agencies and the tourist industry backed the project. The council will now seek partnership arrangements with outside agencies to raise $12,000 for more exploratory work.