Experts bolster Waipā heritage efforts
14 August 2018
Prominent national experts make up half of a Waipa District Council committee charged with driving a multi-million dollar facility to recognise, challenge and acknowledge the district's heritage.
In June Council allocated $7.2 million over the next decade to help fund a major new development - the Waipā Discovery Centre. The Te Awamutu-based centre will form the central hub of wider efforts to promote and acknowledge the district's heritage, including its role in the New Zealand Land Wars.
At this point, $12.4 million has been budgeted for the design and build of the project with external fundraising and contributions expected to provide $5.2 million.
The high-powered governance committee met for the first time today to guide the planning of the centre and sign off on key decisions recommended by a wider project team.
The committee elected LeeAnn Muntz, a director of Aotearoa Experience and chair of Tainui Waka Tourism as governance committee chair. Other committee members are Paraone Gloyne (National Tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori Advisor Te Wananga Aotearoa), Glenda Taituha (Manager of Awards and Scholarships Waikato Tainui), Puawai Cairns (Head of Mātauranga Māori, Te Papa) plus Waipa Mayor Jim Mylchreest and Waipa District Councillors Susan O'Regan, Andrew Brown and Liz Stolwyk. The committee has the power to appoint a further two members, based on skills.
The governance committee received an overview of the project today and will meet again in September. Governance committee meetings will be open to the public.