The Faraday Museum of Technology

The Faraday is a much-loved facility that celebrates our history and heritage. It’s a place that a wide range of locals enjoy, including school children, grandparents and history buffs. It also plays an important role in making Napier a great visitor destination.

The museum’s building needs remedial work, and the layout and visitor experience could be improved. We are considering what refurbishment work the building will need, along with the possibility of rearranging the museum’s layout.

The community has told us they want a more financially sustainable Council. In response, we’ve been looking at possibilities for a new operating model for the Faraday. Final decisions on the future of the museum would be subject to a business case.

OPTION 1: Hand over the running of the Faraday Museum of Technology to a charitable entity (trust). Give the charity a one-off capital grant of $1 million and a $500,000 yearly operational grant.

Under this option the operation of the Faraday would be the responsibility of a charitable entity (trust), which would need to be established. This would give the ability to attract extra external financial support that the Faraday cannot currently access while it operates as a Council business unit.

The trust would receive a one-off capital grant of $1 million towards the refurbishment of the Faraday’s building, to help the museum develop a sustainable future.

The $500,000 yearly operational grant would go towards the Faraday’s costs. The museum would also bring in some income from fees and charges.

The Faraday’s volunteers would continue to play an important role in keeping the museum running, alongside a small group of paid staff.

OPTION 2: Hand over the Faraday Museum of Technology to a charitable entity (trust). Give the charity a yearly operational grant of $500,000.

Under this option, the charity would not have ready access to money for needed refurbishment work, therefore this is not Council’s preferred option. As with Option 1, the $500,000 yearly operational grant would go towards the Faraday’s costs. The museum would also bring in some income from fees and charges. The Faraday’s volunteers would continue to play an important role in keeping the museum running, alongside a small group of paid staff.

OPTION 3: Status quo – no change to the Faraday’s current situation.

Under this option, the Faraday would remain a Council-run facility. It would continue to receive rates funding to support its operation. Costs of the required refurbishment work would still need to be met by ratepayers. Therefore, this is Council’s least favoured option.

Summary of benefits and challenges for all options

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The Faraday Museum of Technology

The Faraday is a much-loved facility that celebrates our history and heritage. It’s a place that a wide range of locals enjoy, including school children, grandparents and history buffs. It also plays an important role in making Napier a great visitor destination.

OPTION 1: Hand over the running of the Faraday Museum of Technology to a charitable entity (trust). Give the charity a one-off capital grant of $1 million and a $500,000 yearly operational grant.

OPTION 2: Hand over the Faraday Museum of Technology to a charitable entity (trust). Give the charity a yearly operational grant of $500,000.

OPTION 3: Status quo – no change to the Faraday’s current situation.

Summary of benefits and challenges for all options

Have your say

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