Auckland Heritage Building Investments: Risks & Returns
Auckland Museum Faces Millions in Costs as Asbestos Forces Māori Court Closure
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Auckland Museum is grappling with a significant financial crisis triggered by the discovery of asbestos, forcing the indefinite closure of its popular Māori Court and jeopardizing future advancement plans. The issue has already severely impacted visitor numbers and revenue,leaving museum leadership scrambling for solutions.
asbestos Discovery and Immediate Impact
The museum partially reopened after a three-week full closure,with some exhibition rooms on the north side slated to reopen in October. However, the Māori Court, a major attraction for international tourists, remains closed indefinitely while experts undertake the complex and delicate process of asbestos removal from the ceiling.
The discovery has already taken a heavy toll on the museum’s finances. Visitor numbers in June were nearly half of the projected 18,000 per week, and July saw a decline of more than a third compared to expectations.
“It’s a pretty serious matter,” says Chief Executive David Reeves. “over the last few years we’ve spent down our reserves, we’ve redeveloped the building. It’s a tricky situation and the museum board are really quite concerned about it.”
The asbestos problem stems from a poorly executed renovation decades ago, where asbestos-containing materials were left behind. The microscopic fibres are present not onyl in the roof cavity above the Māori Court but also on some of the artefacts themselves, adding to the complexity of the remediation process.
A Multi-Year, Multi-Million Dollar Challenge
Removing the asbestos is expected to be a years-long undertaking, costing millions of dollars. Reeves admits he doesn’t know where the necessary funds will come from. The planned $30-$40 million spend on centennial celebrations in 2029 is now uncertain, and other projects are under review.
“It’s a terrible thing that the museum board and the executives have been handed,” observes Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy. “They’ve been, out of nowhere, almost crippled in their business and their vision for the museum by asbestos dust.”
The Māori Court is currently filled with pipes,tubes,and pumps,occupied only by essential workers. Initial plans to lift the roof to extract the asbestos have been ruled out due to access difficulties. The most likely solution involves carefully removing the ornate heritage ceiling in sections, but only after the precious artefacts beneath have been removed.
Reeves describes the situation as “an octopus with more than eight tentacles,” emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the challenge and the significant costs involved. “We’ll get ther,” he states, “Unfortunately at great cost.”
Funding Disparities and the St James Theater Restoration
The museum’s predicament is sharply contrasted with the upcoming restoration of the historic St james Theatre on Queen street. Restoration work is set to begin next month, supported by $30 million in funding from the government and Auckland Council. The theatre, which hosted Queen Elizabeth three times, has been derelict for over a decade.
Murphy points out the irony of the situation. “That beautiful old theatre…will be restored,” he says. However, the funds were allocated by previous administrations and were only reluctantly handed over by the current council and government.
The allocation of funds raises questions about priorities within auckland’s arts and culture sector, particularly as the museum faces a critical funding shortfall for essential safety and preservation work.While the St James Theatre restoration is welcomed, the museum’s situation highlights a potential imbalance in resource allocation.