A Marlborough Sounds Heritage & Culture Centre

Following on from previous submissions and discussions starting in 2007, I hereby further lodge a submission for the potential development of a Marlborough Sounds Heritage and Culture Centre on the foreshore of Picton harbour, in proximity of and to possibly contain, the Edwin Fox Museum and Ship.

For the centre to be a nationally and internationally important exhibition of Marlborough Sounds life and culture, from the first visitations and subsequent settlement of peoples to date, in what we today call the Sounds.

For the centre to have strong representation of both Maori & European history, to tell a timeline, walk through story of the Sounds, its people, its wildlife and its environment.

Why a centre?

Understanding a community's historic, cultural, environmental and social context is essential for celebrating and maintaining a sense of place for both locals and visitors. It increases destination value and civic pride. Potential visitors choose a destination over another based on its core and unique attributes and geographical position. Things to see and do are critical to smaller destinations and offerings that allow visitors to engage, are valuable attractors for sustainable tourism growth.

Such a centre would not only benefit Picton but would also feed into and help deliver the Destination Marlborough, Destination Management Plan, the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy and increase economic wellbeing for Marlborough.

To grow sustainable tourism for economic growth in Marlborough and to preserve and protect our heritage and culture.