Whangarei mayor Stan Semenoff has announced plans to establish an international-standard Hundertwasser arts centre at Whangarei’s Town Basin.

Deputy mayor Kahu Sutherland and council CEO Mark Simpson have this week returned from negotiations in Vienna where they gained the full support of the Hundertwasser Foundation for the proposal.

The arts centre would bring to fruition the plans the famous Austrian artist sketched for the former Northland Regional Council building at the Basin in 1993. The building is now owned by Whangarei District Council.

The Hundertwasser Foundation, which maintains a significant collection of the artist’s work, has offered to design the alteration of the building according to Hundertwasser principles, and also offered to provide the contents of the centre.

The building would house many examples of the work of artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, including his own models of his buildings, stamps, flags, his various styles of art and his architecture.

In his letter of support to Council, foundation chairman Joram Harel says the Hundertwasser Centre “will add pride, contribute to the cultural heritage and to the wellbeing of the people of New Zealand and attract many tourists from all over the world”.

Mr Semenoff said the centre was expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and make a major injection into the district’s economy.

“The 20/20 concept for the development of Whangarei calls for an ‘iconic museum’ for the waterfront. This is it.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the result Kahu and Mark have achieved. This is wonderful news for tourism in Whangarei.

“The benefits will be huge and I believe this Hundertwasser Centre will be the catalyst for the regeneration of Whangarei.

“This project will fulfil Mr Hundertwasser’s dreams, my dreams and the dreams of many people who would have liked to have seen it completed some years ago,” Mr Semenoff said.

Mr Simpson said he believed the centre would cost about $9.5 million, but it was anticipated there would be no call on ratepayers’ money.

Funding would be sought from the Government and from organisations such as community trusts and the lotteries board.

Mr Simpson said winning support from the Hundertwasser Foundation was a significant achievement.

“This will be the only Hundertwasser gallery outside Vienna’s Kunsthauswien, which is the gallery where the foundation exhibits the artist’s work.

“What helped our proposal to Mr Harel, who was Hundertwasser’s friend and business partner, was the scale of the building.

“Mr Harel approved that we could create a meaningful, authentic Hundertwasser experience at the Town Basin which could display all the aspects of his art. He also wants to see tours run from the centre to Mr Hundertwasser’s Kawakawa property, Kaurinui,” he said.

The foundation owns that property, and also most of the work the artist did in the final 30 years of his life.

Mr Simpson said he estimated it could take 18 months to complete the centre.

“What we will have when we open the centre will be a world-class facility with world-class artwork in Whangarei.

“This has the potential to change the perception of Whangarei, and we see this as encouraging the development of the city centre and the linkage of the shopping precinct with the Town Basin,” he said.

Mr Sutherland said the centre would enshrine the close links Mr Hundertwasser forged with Northland and particularly with Maoridom.

He said examples of his work in Austrian buildings featured koru, tiki and waka, showing the affinity the artist felt for Maori culture and New Zealand.

“Of all the countries in the world he visited, he chose to be buried in New Zealand.

“This is our chance to recognise his contribution to New Zealand and create a world-class facility which honours his art and his philosophies.

“Mr Hundertwasser was world famous and there is no doubt whatsoever that this centre will be a huge drawcard for Whangarei,” Mr Sutherland said.