Opinion: I’ve been dreaming of a waka.
It’s huge and sumptuous and is a spectacular wondrous piece of structure for the Wynyard Level. A New Zealand equal of the Sydney Opera Home or the Balboa Guggenheim.
And in 2026, my dream is that it’s going to change into a actuality and one thing that Auckland could be pleased with. One thing that’s so wanted to encourage and have a good time who we’re and what we now have change into.
In 2013 once I was on the board of Te Papa I steered it was time for a Te Papa North. I used to be chairing the board of Waterfront Auckland and it appeared to me the concept of bringing one thing vital to the tip of the Tank Farm could be an inspiring addition to a metropolis that had solely managed a typical sky tower to mark its centrepiece.
Auckland simply wants one thing particular and vital and related. I referred to as a gathering of all the administrators of museums throughout New Zealand to workshop what might be an iconic and superb addition to the Metropolis of Sails.
Ten years later Lindsay Mackie of Archimedia introduced his Te Waka Moana idea to a small group of us, as a must-see world class attraction. And I knew that this sensible thought was what Auckland might dream of getting and be famend for on the tip of Wynyard Level.
Te Waka Moana is for me my largest private dream, that I wish to see come to fruition in 2026 and to be celebrated as a particular and great iconic tribute to the land and voyagers. The best human migration throughout the huge Pacific.
The final 5 years have been bringing this idea into actuality. Now we have labored carefully with Ngāti Whātua, our Polynesian group and our maritime historians. Now we have refined the design and now we really feel that it’s going to comfortably sit on the brand new council park Te Ara Tukutuku.
Te Waka Moana shall be greater than a museum. Its 5 lovely flooring of wooden and glass shall be an immersive expertise of visible wonderment, artefacts and historical past however its prominence shall be seen as a welcoming and iconic vacation spot for Aucklanders and worldwide guests.
A must-see, a must-visit expertise. It’s time now to unveil its potential and its superb future. It’s time to cheer on one thing vital and subsequent yr is its unveiling.
That’s my dream. It’s fairly a dream.
If I had three needs they might be for New Zealand to pay attention extra to the voices of our youth, our subsequent technology appears to be significantly lacking in our dialog.
My second want is for extra consideration for our disabled group – ignored, underfunded invisible.
And my final want is for extra enjoyable. I don’t know once we final laughed out loud. Since Covid and the floods, a cloud of gloom as blown in from the Tasman like Australian bushfire smoke and has given us a significantly damp and gloomy outlook as a nation.
A dose of happiness is significantly in want. Hey dude, loosen up.
