Marlborough Sounds Heritage & Culture Centre, Picton Waterfront

Following on from previous submissions and discussions starting in 2007, I hereby further lodge a submission on 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 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, in what we now call the Marlborough Sounds.

To be included in the centre.

•The Edwin Fox Ship & Visitor Centre.

•A Whaling Heritage Centre – Whale Trail Hub & Bike Repair Shop.

•A Settler Exhibition – Polynesian, Maori, European

•A Maritime Media Space – Art, culture, archival, PMNZ, performance, exhibitions.

•A social space – Café, viewing area.

Why have a centre?

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 small destination towns and offerings that allow visitors to engage, are valuable attractors that encourage visitors to stay longer, explore further and return.

In 2025, social media plays a lead role in advertising destinations and connective attractions, that allow people to learn about and engage with a place, can become icon attractions when delivered well.

Often small towns support large landscapes, which have a big story to tell. Picton is one of those towns and its surrounding landscapes have a plethora of stories waiting to be told in a modern well-designed space. A space that can connect with the landscape, its heritage, and its cultural history practically and through exhibition of artifacts and presentations.

Understanding a community’s historic, cultural, environmental, and social context is essential for celebrating and developing a ‘sense of place’ for both locals and visitors, and economically, heritage tourism is now internationally recognised, as a significant attractor for sustainable tourism growth.

Not only would such a facility be a significant tourism attractor, but it would raise pride in the local and regional community, offer significant educational value and scope, and serve as a platform to bring together Māori and Pakeha, in giving them the ability to showcase their individual and combined stories, under one roof.

Heritage tourism is one way our community can realise growth by allowing people to work together to enhance economic and cultural development, through distinct community opportunities and storytelling.

This submission is in support of previous submissions by me and others, who see a significant opportunity here, to grow Picton as a destination in Marlborough, that showcases and preserves its past for the betterment of the region’s vitality, economic strength and for future generations.