Frank Kitts Park - Fale Malae proposal
Project update: Thanks for your feedback! We are now collating responses from the survey. We will post updates in the news feed tab on this page.
Background and context
In September 2021, Wellington City Council made the decision to demolish the earthquake prone underground carpark in the south-west corner of Frank Kitts Park. The Fale Malae Trust is proposing to build a Fale Malae which would replace the car park structure with a smaller footprint and include multi-purpose spaces, as well as public facilities and a café.
Councillors must decide by June 2023, whether to proceed to the next stages of the development and provide landowner approval. To inform that decision the Council needs to understand the community’s views on the waterfront proposal.
What is the Fale Malae and why is it important?
Aotearoa New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours share similar cultural and social values that bind us. Yet we don’t have a dedicated institution to reflect our identity and role in the Pacific.
This part of Wellington’s waterfront has become culturally rich. From Te Papa, the Wharewaka, future development of a Garden of Beneficence (modern Chinese Garden), the existing plaques and sculptures in Frank Kitts Park, and now the potential development of a Pasifka Fale Malae.
A national Fale Malae at Frank Kitts Park is proposed to complement Wellington’s waterfront as a landmark building of cultural significance to the nation. The Fale Malae Trust proposes that the building will support a wide range of community and educational activities. The Fale (building) is proposed to be a pavilion within the park and includes a café and storage area to support recreational activity on the waterfront, including dragon boat racing. The Malae (greenspace) would form part of the public open space within the park.
Wellington’s waterfront will be a place to celebrate and commemorate cultures from all around the Pacific region.
Has the Fale Malae been approved?
The Fale Malae proposal has not yet been approved. There are a number of approval stages for the Fale Malae to proceed in Frank Kitts Park, including Landowner and Resource Consent approval. The Council is a landowner and sometimes needs to give approval to people or groups who want to use council-owned land.
The project is being led by the Fale Malae Trust, a non-profit entity. The Trust has received funding from the Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and is working with a range of stakeholder groups including mana whenua and the Pasifika community.
What is the cost?
The Council are not funding the Fale project however costs will be required for the demolition of the car park which is required due to the seismic integrity of the current building, the re-development of the park post demolition, and the Garden of Beneficence which is already funded through the Long-Term Plan in 2024/25.
The Landowner approval decision in June will be subject to funding.
Members of the public will have another chance to have their say in relation to costs through the Long-Term Plan consultation early 2024.
What is the alternative to the Fale Malae?
The current car park building in the park contains public toilet facilities, Dragon Boat and waterfront management storage as well as area for retail and hospitality.
The proposed Fale building would replace the car park with a smaller footprint and provide community facilities, events space, storage for waterfront activities as well as public toilets and a café. If the Fale proposal were not to go ahead, Wellington City Council would be required to scope and fund replacement facilities.
How would the Fale Malae complement the wider waterfront?
An important consideration in granting landowner approval is the Waterfront Framework which provides the key objectives and principles for development and management of the waterfront.
The relevant objectives of the Waterfront Framework are:
- The waterfront is locally and internationally recognised for its design.
- The waterfront is readily accessible to all people.
- The waterfront is, and is perceived to be, safe at all times.
- The waterfront is seen as an attractive place that draws Wellingtonians and visitors alike.
- The waterfront successfully caters for a wide range of events and activities.
- Significant heritage buildings are protected on the waterfront.
- Activities on the waterfront are integrated with those on the harbour.
More information
If you wish to speak to someone about this project you can email the project manager rachael.watts@wcc.govt.nz.
Privacy statement – what we do with your personal information
No personally identifying information that can be linked to you as an individual is gathered through this survey. However, where it is provided by the submitter or where the name of your group/organisation is provided, all responses will be kept completely confidential.
You can read our full privacy statement here.
-
Start
We want to hear your views on the proposed Fale Malae in Frank Kitts Park.