Plans for a film museum and convention centre in the heart of Wellington have been given the go-ahead.
The project has the support of Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Wellington city councillors this afternoon voted unanimously to build the $134 million, multi-purpose venue opposite Te Papa. Previous plans for a five-star Hilton hotel on the site have been scrapped.
The convention centre, capable of hosting 1100 people, will be run by the council. It will in turn lease out land to The Movie Museum Ltd, a company formed by Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor.
Museum project director said George Hickton it would showcase movie memorabilia from films and television shows produced within the city.
The council predicted the project would generate about $38 million a year for the capital.
Wellington's deputy major Justin Lester told Morning Report it would be a drawcard for international tourists.
"This project will become synonymous with Wellington, you know for an international tourist coming to New Zealand, I think this will be the most significant man-made attraction so I think it's going to be really really large, it will put Wellington front and centre on the tourist map, so we'll see a lot more people coming to Wellington. No one will bypass the city."
Wellington is not the only city proposing to build a convention centre. Projects are under way or planned for Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown.