HB Regional Museum Research and Archives Centre

After almost five years in the planning, construction has begun on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Museum Research and Archives Centre in Hastings.

The site at 307 Queen Street East was blessed ahead of Gemco Construction beginning the build that’s expected to take 18-24 months to complete, including a complex three to four month relocation of the region’s taonga and artefacts.

The project is a collaboration between Hastings District and Napier City councils, the Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and will provide secure, appropriate, permanent storage for the future care and protection of the extensive collection.

The collection is not only significant to the region, but also important nationally, comprising around 90,000 items, valued at more than $30m.

Without the significant support of the community and government this project would not have got to where it is now. Investments of $5.79m from the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, and $9m from the Manatū Taonga-Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Regional Culture & Heritage Fund, on top of the Hastings and Napier councils’ contributions, have made this project possible.

The facility’s design comprises a “Lighthouse” and a “Darkhouse”. The Lighthouse will be part-education and research space, and part-workspace, while the Darkhouse will be the secure, temperature and humidity-controlled storage component, with a focus on the protection and preservation of the collection.

The Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust is the official kaitiaki/guardian of the collection with Napier City Council’s MTG managing the day-to-day needs through a contract for service.

In order to safely carry out the build, Gemco Construction has fenced off part of the Queen Street East carpark. This fencing will remain in place for the full duration of the construction.