The Len Lye Centre (LLC) Cost to Run and Job Titles. Quite Unbelievable.

This is a copy of a recent post from Murray Chong – an NPDC Councillor.

2 weeks ago I tried to move a motion (at a Council meeting) to save money on our rate rises by reducing what money we give the LLC by 50%, as just this one motion would have been the biggest reduction on our rate rises (2% less)

Only one other councillor supported my motion to look into this (Cr Max Brough) and all the other councillors thought it was ok to have a facility that runs at a loss of over $115k EVERY week.

Council have been very strident in resisting to show full breakdowns of these running costs.

Cultural benefits can be intangible but simple economics in time of double digit rate increases means we should get serious in looking at saving some $$ in the nice to have areas.

Do you support a review?

Meantime something to chew over in your mind.

This is the list of roles at the Len Lye centre.

1 - Director

2 - Cultural Experiences Engagement and Development Lead

3 - Curator Len Lye and Contemporary Art

4 - Assistant Curator Contemporary Art and Collections

5 - Assistant Curator Contemporary Māori Art

6 - Assistant Len Lye Curator

7 - Curator-at-large

8 - Cultural Experiences Public Programs and Learning Lead

9 - Assistant Curator Public Engagement

10 - Cultural Experiences Māori Public Programmes Officer

11 - Pacific Public Programmes Coordinator

12 - Registrar

13 - Cultural Experiences Visitor Services Lead

14 - Cultural Experiences Customer Services, i-site and Retail Supervisor

15 - Cultural Experiences Visitor Services Supervisor

16 - Cinema Programmer

17 - Cultural Experiences Events and Development Officer

18 - Digital Engagement Supervisor

19 - Business Support Officer

20 - Cultural Experiences Administrator

21 - Exhibitions Coordinator

22 - Senior Exhibition Technician

23,24 - Exhibition Technicians

25 - Cultural Experiences Learning Supervisor

26,27 Educators

As well as the front of house team;

At the front desk: 6 staff,

In the galleries: 15 Staff.

Len Lye Centre -Total Staff 48

(as at website Dated 06.03.25)

When I first became a councillor back in 2013 its staff count was only 11, and increased another 8 once the LLC opened in 2014

So in just over 10 years LLC staff has grown by over 150% (19-48)

It’s just not right!!! …. And it beats me why the other 13 elected council members turn a blind eye to this huge liability of a facility.

Remember this come election time