'No buildings on Frank Kitts Park': Pushback against Wellington's 2025 fale malae waterfront project

Wellington's iconic waterfront may see the capital's first fale malae by 2025 despite the Wellington Civic Trust's pushback.

The Fale Malae project aims to build a Pacific-inspired, multi-purpose space atop the demolished earthquake-prone car park beneath Frank Kitts Park, enabling Wellingtonians to host events.

Chair and co-founder of the Wellington Civic Trust, Helene Ritchie, says Pacific peoples are long overdue for the privilege of a waterfront building that acknowledges them, but not on Frank Kitts Park.

"Our policy has been there should be no buildings on Frank Kitts Park," Ritchie says.

"[It's] one of only two waterfront parks that have been identified as parks by the council, until recently three weeks ago after they decided to put a building on it."

Mayor Tory Whanau (Pakakohi) says she "100 per cent" supports the building of the capital's first fale malae, and so do mana whenua who are co-designers.

"Len Hetet is the Māori design lead to ensure that mana whenua's aspirations are captured, and mana whenua I've spoken to are supportive which is great," Whanau says.

Currently, the project is surveying opinions from the local community, in which the Mayor is confident that Wellingtonians share her enthusiasm.

"I think [the community] will be one hundred per cent supportive. I've not heard any opposition to it at all," Whanau says.

She says that there is debate on where the fale malae should be placed, out of concern that its grassy area and natural aesthetic are impacted.

"The design lends itself well to the Frank Kitts area. I don't think you can get a better mix of the use of space, so I think once people see the design, they'll be on board."

Photo/Fale Malae Trust

Trustee of the Fale Malae Trust, John Fiso (Ti'avea of Upolu, Vaito'omuli of Savai'i), says the project acknowledges the Pacific community and their hardships, as it sits alongside other iconic sites such as Te Papa, the Chinese Gardens and Te Wharewaka.

"Knowing what it was like in the early days and how far Pacific have come in New Zealand," Fiso says.

"International visitors will come to the capital city and Pacific will be represented. We'll be proud when we see this building internationally."

Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington, the Fale Malae Trust, the City Council and the central government are the key drivers behind this decade-long project.

Wellington Pacific Business Network chair Paul Retimanu says the central government and Victoria University have funded 10 million each, where fundraising will complete the final costs roughly estimated to be between 10 to 15 million.

"Once we finalise that architectural drawings, then we'll have a definitive number," Retimanu says.

He says if consultation processes and resource consent are sorted the fale malae could only take up to a year to finish.

"Hopefully, we're looking forward to 2025 for having the fale malae up," Retimanu says.

However, Ritchie says the expenses are "incalculable," due to resource consents needed for the demolition of the car park, the bridge crossing Jervois Quay, redevelopment of the Chinese Garden of Beneficence and the application for constructing the fale malae.

"Each of those consents are likely to be contested and end up in court. That would take years," she says.

"I'm concerned the fale may never be built, let alone the concern we have for the park itself."

Ritchie says the Transition site between Te Papa and Waitangi Park would be better as it is still on the waterfront and and more cost-effective.

"This site is far superior for the fale and more likely to be achieved.

"We think that the council has sold the Fale Malae Trust a pup. It will take years, if ever, to have it achieved on Frank Kitts Park."