23/09/2026
We Love our ‘weird’ and wonderful Waitaki!
GRAINSTORE GALLERY ON THE LONELY PLANET BEST LIST!
Today a book is released titled 'Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2027.' In it Dunedin/Waitaki are among the 25 worldwide destinations featured. The main blurb begins with a description of The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery run by my arts and ethics hero and icon, Bruce Mahalski, and there is a large image of the interior of my Grainstore Gallery spread across two pages, the only image from Waitaki.
I am proud and very excited about this. It comes following a very difficult period of uncertainty about my ability to continue this project because of the proposed rent hike.
After significant negotiations, we have agreed to an increase which is still more than doubling. While it remains a challenge I am determined to find a way, and I'm hopeful the Lonely Planet publicity will benefit many of us down in the Heritage precinct, upon which the article primarily focuses. Steampunk gets a mention, as do the characters of both places.
There is much I could say about all this. Here are a few hopefully salient points following the recent process of negotiations:
Firstly I would like to sincerely thank everybody who has expressed support and appreciation for the gallery. I was astounded by all the positive feedback, and being emotional at the best of times it was really overwhelming! Your comments, likes, messages and tangible support via the givealittle campaign all contributed to this outcome. I can't express enough the depth of my gratitude.
It has really got me thinking about my frustration with the value system that we have in this age where financial success is seen as the only scale of measuring worth. To me riches are far more in the value of human relationships, art, music, nature (and dogs,) and the privilege and freedom to consider and express feelings about the world's issues and challenges. Food and shelter are obviously necessary but beyond that, accumulation of wealth has no appeal. I realise this is not necessarily a 'realistic' attitude when the cost of living (a ridiculous concept unique to the human animal) creeps consistently higher exponentially.
I like to think the contribution I make is not confined to financial incentive. The endorsement by Lonely Planet validates the role of creativity, imagination, and activism in response to the human experience.
I am really frustrated with the District Council and local tourism entity in the way they fail to value, celebrate and support the things most appreciated by my audience and that of many others in this area.
Searching 'Grainstore Gallery' in the Tourism Waitaki website 'Culture, Heritage' section yielded "Oops... sorry! We found no results. Try broadening your search." Crikey! The gallery has been here nearly 25 years and I know that my contribution has been credited with transformation of the area into an arts and tourism destination, the Lonely Planet feature endorsing this. The Precinct's success depends heavily on attractions that feel authentic, eccentric, handcrafted and culturally alive and my gallery (among others) definitely embodies these qualities. I am incredibly angry that the Visitors Centre and Whitestone City have been denied the funds to continue, as they were doing the on-the-ground interactions that the online-only model is failing to deliver. And in spectacularly appropriate richly aesthetic fashion!
I also have great frustration with Council's negative response to my request for consideration of charging the Precinct area less ground rents and rates than the mainstreet retail area. This will lead to the lessening if not eradication of arts and cultural attractions that rely on very seasonal tourist traffic. Businesses reliant on year round local patronage such as hairdressers, beauty salons and exercise studios etc can still thrive but our reputation as a destination will diminish. The mayor's comment to Councillors following my appeal that they "cannot pick favourites" struck me as ridiculous when that represents the entirety of their mandate: choosing projects, contracts, service models etc that they 'favour' spending our rates on.
I am also saddened that my landlords, the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust seem to be only interested in the Heritage/built architecture of the Precinct. Their website contains very little mention of the current occupants and activities within the buildings. (And this includes the street maps and signage opposite the Woolstore and Cucina.)
From my experience of many decades, visitors to this area are VERY interested in the contents and characters within these grand edifices. I think it is high time this area recognises, promotes and supports the things that really make it unique and celebrated by our local, regional, national and international visitors, as well as the esteemed travel bible Lonely Planet. Everyone benefits!
