Waitakere City has had the brilliance of foresight and become the long-awaited first city in New Zealand brave enough to step out in the face of the ususal budget constraints and work collaboratively with artists when designing and building new facilities.

The idea of utilising the creativity of professional artists in the design process, and then commissioning them to make works which are part of that process is not new. Pamille Berg, who was a partner in the architectual firm which designed and built the now 'not-so-new' Parliament House in Canberra, showed the world what could be done by such collaboration.

Every New Zealand city should keep their eye on Waitake City. They are show-casing their culture and their identity and will be the first place international visitors will seek out. Every city should employ a Naomi McCleary (art advisor to Waitakere City) and every city abounds in wonderful New Zealand artists who are waiting to be consulted - and paid.