Details of the Government's regional museums policy for capital construction projects, released today, are bad news for the Auckland War Memorial Museum, National's spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Belinda Vernon said today.

"The announcement is a backdoor way of saying 'no' to government funding for Auckland's plans to complete the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

"The Museum Trust Board went to the Government last year, supported by all the contributing councils, with a funding request for desperately needed new exhibition and storage space.

"The Government has led Auckland on a merry dance in its consideration of the stage two completion project at the Museum.

"Today's announcement makes it clear that funding for the Auckland project is not contemplated - and even if it were, the funding is not there to meet its requirements.

"What's happened to the direct, tell it like it is Prime Minister, she holds herself out to be.

"The Prime Minister should come clean and tell the Auckland Museum Trust Board that the Government has no intention of funding the completion project, rather than playing Auckland off against the regions," Ms Vernon said.

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