Former Rotorua Museum curator Paul Tapsell in front of Ngāti Whakaue chief Pūkaki at the museum storage site in 2024. Photo / Laura Smith

Rotorua Lakes Council is spending more than $319,000 a year to store, insure and maintain a $21 million-plus art collection – much of which the public hasn’t seen since Rotorua Museum closed in 2016.

The council holds 2878 works of art, including 1526 donated pieces, and stores 348 works ownedby other parties.

The council-owned collection is estimated to be worth $13.66m, including $6.9m of gifted works. The privately owned works held by council have a combined estimated value of $7.9m.

Figures supplied to Local Democracy Reporting show the council spends about $288,627 a year on storage, $25,343 on insurance and $5000 on maintenance and conservation.

The collection has not been publicly displayed at the museum since it closed for earthquake strengthening and restoration work in 2016.

Council community experience manager Alex Wilson said opportunities to display more of the collection elsewhere had been explored but were not progressed for financial reasons.

“The cost of the security and environmental control standards that are required was prohibitive,” she said.

Wilson said decisions about the future management, display and investment in the collection could be considered as part of the next Long-Term Plan process.

Tapsell said she wanted more of the collection to be accessible.

“What I hope is that these incredible pieces get to be displayed publicly, even if during temporary and changing exhibitions,” she said.

She also acknowledged museums could not display their entire collection. She said any decisions to remove works from the collection – a process known as deaccessioning n–eeded to be made carefully, particularly where items had cultural, historical or local significance.

“I believe there is a very real need to protect historic and cultural artefacts, especially with local connection,” she said.

“Keeping artwork in storage is a debate that has started across the country, and I’m committed to reviewing how we can best protect our art and history while ensuring a return on this investment for locals.”

An Off-Broadway concert fundraiser is later this month.

Tapsell said she would welcome opportunities to display works before 2028 if suitable venues could be found.

“I’d love for locals and visitors to see nationally and internationally significant artwork in Rotorua and not just the big cities,” she said.

Mathew Nash is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. He has previously written for SunLive, been a regular contributor to RNZ and was a football reporter in the UK for eight years.

• LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.