Bastion Point Project receives Reserves Board approval to Proceed

At the June meeting of the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Reserves Board, the high technology Maori tourism attraction Te Pa, planned for Bastion Point, was given a green light to proceed to Resource Consent. This decision was ratified by the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board on 15th June.

Due to open early 2006, Te Pa will be Auckland’s cultural tourism icon, and will provide an experience unlike any other in the world mixing 21st century attraction technology and live cultural performance.

The project is a 50/50 joint venture between The Ngati Whatua Trust Board via Ngati Whatua Tourism Ltd and Oceania Attractions Ltd. Te Pa will include a 540-seat theatre, art galleries and whare Taonga, a carving and weaving centre and a restaurant, all nestled within a re-vegetated native forest environment.

Ngati Whatua Rangatira and Te Pa cultural director Joe Hawke said, “We have been committed to the Te Pa project for many years, it is very pleasing to see it coming to fruition at last. I have always seen it as a major way forward for our people.”

Ngati Whatua o Orakei Trust Board member Piripi Davis said he is delighted to see the project reach this stage of development. “This is a significant step for our project, one that will benefit our hapu and provide a unique and credible tourism facility that celebrates Ngati Whatua o Orakei and its cultural heritage.”

Te Pa was conceived and developed from the late 1990’s and Ngati Whatua o Orakei Reserves Board publicly notified plans for the project in early 2003. Public hearings were held and amendments were made based on public feedback. The Reserves Board has further considered Te Pa over the past 12 months.

Oceania Attractions Managing Director Kim Hegan says, “The Reserves Board decision caps off a series of major developments for the project over the last 12 months.”

Firstly, the Minister of Conservation signed off on the management plan, which will see much of the whenua replanted in Native species.

In November 2003 investors Whyte Adder # 3 Limited took a majority stake in Oceania Attractions Ltd committing to the $16m funding package. The directors of Oceania Attractions Ltd are Barry Wallace (Chairman), Peter Kraus, Ross Keenan, Joe Hawke, John McLean, and Kim Hegan.

“We are grateful to the City for their guidance in helping us to understand the intention of the Whenua Rangatira Management Plan and we thank them for their positive contributions to this exciting Project.” Mr Hegan said.

Previously published endorsements for the project include:
Hon Jim Anderton, Minister of Economic Development: “It is a major tourism project which the Government is pleased to support”

Auckland Mayor, the Hon John Banks: ‘Auckland needs Te Pa … it will be a real asset to the city.’

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