The Wellington City Council opened consultations in October on extensive proposals for redevelopment of the Civic Square precinct - Te Ngākau. While public attention was on options to remove the City to Sea Bridge and to build on the Jack Ilott Green site, little attention has been given to proposed changes to City Gallery.

Although the Consultation documents on the City Council website were vague about any likely changes to City Gallery, the website also made available the full planning document, “Te Ngākau Precinct Wide Draft Development Plan”, where the options proposed for City Gallery’s future were shocking.  

New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts (NZAFA) recognises that, as a national arts body, it has a responsibility to advocate for the aesthetic and economic development of the arts throughout New Zealand. NZAFA also recognises the important role of the arts to the economic and social well-being of the community. It was with the recognition of the vital contribution of the arts to Wellington that NZAFA made its submission on proposals within the Draft Development Plan that it believes cannot avoid being deleterious to the future economic and social well-being of the city.

Read submission here