Mahara Gallery

Media release 25 August, 2017

Mahara Gallery Board to Prepare Plans for a Stand-Alone Gallery Upgrade

Mahara Gallery Trust Board will begin work immediately on planning for a stand-alone Gallery redevelopment on the Gallery’s existing site, Board Chairman Professor Les Holborow confirmed today.

He was commenting on the decision by the Kāpiti Coast District Council to place on hold plans for a new combined library and art gallery building in Waikanae.

“The Council’s preference for the past eighteen months has been to house the library and Mahara Gallery in a new, purpose-built facility,” he said. “We supported this approach because we considered it would deliver the best outcome for Waikanae and the Kāpiti district.

“While the decision to place the project on hold is disappointing, we understand the Council’s reasons for making it and we are grateful that the Council remains committed to its budgeted contribution to the Gallery redevelopment.

“Without the library component, we are left with just the Gallery redevelopment and that will now need to proceed separately from the library on the existing gallery site.”

Professor Holborow said Mahara Gallery Board’s priority remains creating a museum-standard facility that will enable the nationally-significant Field Collection to be retained in Kāpiti and stored and displayed in the Gallery.

“The Field Collection is a treasure with considerable potential as a visitor attraction for Kāpiti. We appreciate that its offer to Mahara Gallery will not last indefinitely and that we must move as quickly as we can to secure it.”

He said that with this in mind, the Board would review options for a redeveloped Gallery on the existing site.

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