The debate on whether the Southland Museum and Art Gallery (SMAG) Trust board should be pressing for rights over the ownership of the museum building surfaced again at a meeting yesterday (December 3).

SMAG board member Christine Henderson expressed discomfort that the board had just accepted the ownership of the building lies with the Invercargill city council (ICC) and not the SMAG Trust board.

Earlier this year, ICC chief executive Clare Hadley uncovered a letter written by the museum board in 1960, which stated that the ICC is the rightful owner. 

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

The news came as a complete shock to the board.

At the time, board member Roger Eagles – who is also a lawyer – questioned whether the letter had any real legal weighting, however, he said as the museum building was closed due to an earthquake risk, it would be of no benefit to the board as it did not have the funds to manage it in its current state. 

The board agreed in June that it would not challenge the ICC on the ownership. 

The building is now a council-controlled organisation (CCO).

However, Ms Henderson seems to be still not be happy with the decision, saying that the building should not be taken away from the people of Southland.  

Board member Brett Highstead said the board should welcoming the opportunity to relinquish ownership to the ICC. 

“I just can’t get the point of Christine over this building. A council’s a local body, and whether it represents Invercargill, Gore or Southland, it is a local body, which is made up by a large number of people in Southland. If that body is prepared to take the financial impact of owning that building, I welcome that and I think this board should welcome that.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

“We have no capacity or capability to deliver the redevelopment of that building so why are we wanting to litigate this issue?

“We should be thanking [ICC] not arguing over where the history lies, it’s sitting with the people of Southland.”

Board Chair Darren Ludlow said the bottom line was when the doors opened again, it would be open for the people of Southland.

Evelyn Cook agreed, saying that realising the board did not own the building came as a huge relief, as now it would not be lumbered with the associated costs of either fixing or re-opening it. 

She asked for the exact wording around what was decided about the ownership at a previous meeting so it could be settled once and for all.

“I’m sorry but my time is actually precious and I’m getting a little bit cross with re-litigating this all the time,” she said.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

The SMAG Trust board is now solely responsible for the custodianship of the collection.

Meanwhile, the SMAG board unanimously agreed to appoint Darren Ludlow to be in the new chair of the board, replacing former chair Toni Biddle.

It also appointed Roger Eagles as the new deputy chair, replacing former deputy chair Darren Ludlow.

No other nominations for chair or deputy chair were put forward.