Margo Reid
The plan is for Dunedin's Chinese Garden to remain a
separate activity from Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, even though
the museum will take over managing the garden.
Outgoing garden manager Margo Reid said whether there would
be a physical connection between the two Dunedin City
Council-owned attractions would be something museum
management would have to decide later, but the separate
physical entrance to the garden from the street would have to
remain, either way.
''There is special significance about that entrance.
''It would be very disrespectful for that not to be used.
''It is an activity in its own right,'' she said.
In an effort to reduce the cost of the garden to ratepayers,
museum management has started assuming responsibility for
day-to-day running of the garden, and will take over
completely from July 1, when Ms Reid's role will be
disestablished.
Plans could include a new cafe-function room at the garden,
and bringing merchandise sales to the entrance. There had
been no discussion on changing entrance charges for the
garden, Ms Reid said yesterday.
What the museum intended to do with an empty space at the
garden end of the museum, or whether it intended to take
garden entrance fees at the museum's front desk had not be
discussed and guesses at this stage would be ''crystal ball
gazing''.
Signs around the museum about the garden were simply the two
attractions working together to ''acknowledge each other's
presence'', rather than any indication of how the two would
work together in the future, she said.
The marketing for the two attractions would be organised
centrally by the council and follow the general practice at
this stage for all the city's cultural activities to be
marketed as a group.
- debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.