Local board support flows for Wero

Support is building in South Auckland for Wero, a bold white water initiative planned to further develop the successful TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre.

On February 19 the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board voted to support the proposal by Regional Facilities Auckland, a council-controlled organisation to provide net sale proceeds from the adjoining land sale to Counties Manukau Pacific Trust to develop stage two of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre.

On February 13, 2013 the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board also voted in favour of RFA’s proposal.

Sir Noel Robinson, chairman of Counties Manukau Pacific Trust spearheading Wero says; “Local board support is fantastic because we really need to see a regional facility in the south that delivers on our collective aspirations for our youth.”

The local board support follows Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development’s (ATEED) favourable review released in November, 2012.

ATEED presented the results of its peer review of the economic output data of the business plan for the proposed Stage 2 development, to build a white water stadium, Wero beside TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre.

Counties Manukau Pacific Trust’s business plan stated the total project would generate 110 fulltime equivalent jobs and contribute $7.4 million in GDP to the southern area of Auckland each year.

At the November Auckland Council Strategy and Finance Committee meeting, ATEED reported that the figures were conservative as were the visitor forecasts and the Wero project could expect to exceed expectations.

ATEED is strongly of the view that the wider range of potential benefits such as youth development, increased tourism, the attraction of international sporting events, should be at the forefront of consideration since economic development is only one of a range of objectives of the Wero proposal.

About Wero

The white water stadium is the stage two anchor attraction and it will consist of a function centre and two water courses.

River Rush is a grade four white water rafting course for recreational rafters and kayakers that will attract international televised events with a training base for the Olympic teams.

Tamariki River is a grade one water course for school group use for an introduction to rafting and kayaking.

It will also be used by not for profit groups for mentoring programmes teaching water safety and learning to take risks in a controlled environment is key for youth development.

It will also provide training facilities for the emergency services for frontline moving water training.

Stage three includes Body Odyssey exhibition, art gallery and café, and office plus classroom spaces.

Body Odyssey was an interactive exhibition of the human body developed by Te Papa and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan hosted at TelstraClear Pacific in 2005.

The exhibition was enjoyed by over 26,000 visitors and will be a permanent exhibition in Wero.

With the highest diabetes rates in the world, Body Odyssey will help educate our youth on the importance of making healthier choices.

An art gallery and café will be added to provide an outlet for talented New Zealand artists giving tourists and locals alike the chance to purchase original artworks.

Office and classroom spaces will also be added on the second floor of the building. This will provide meeting and workshop spaces with a wonderful view of River Rush and Tamariki River.

Stage four, The Arrival will be an interactive high tech visual display telling the Polynesian story of journey, following the DNA trail from Asia finally arriving on the shores of Aotearoa.

A descendant of Hape will guide visitors through the tunnel sharing his story of journey on the stingray named Kaiwhare to our harbour.

The tunnel will end at a contemporary Fale where guests will enjoy food of the journey along with cultural group performances drawing on the many talents from within our communities.

The Arrival will be used during the day by school students learning the stories and history of our people.

Stage five, the Outreach Gallery and artist in residence studio will house touring exhibitions with an artist in residence program for school groups from all over the Auckland region.

ENDS

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