Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday hit out at the National Museum’s Te Papa which she said would not get government funding unless it improved its jumbled and incoherent exhibitions.
The Prime Minister was commenting after recent government briefing papers revealed that Te Papa’s finances were precarious and the Museum needed an extra $11 million a year on top of the $18 million it already recieves annually.
Calling the asked for increase “huge”, Ms Clark said the museum would have to resolve how it displayed the National Art Collection among other issues before the government would consider increasing its funding.
Te Papa does not have the space to display all of the National Art Collection and the existing display has been the subject of strong criticism by artists and academics.
She also criticised the National Government for not
informing the Labour before the election of Te Papa’s
request for extra funding, saying National May have
breached the Fiscal Responsibility
Act.