An island in Wellington Harbour is set to be turned into a hi-tech tourist attraction by Sir Peter Jackson.

Matiu/Somes Island, which is now a predator-free scientific reserve, was New Zealand's first inner harbour lighthouse and has been a human quarantine station, an internment camp, military defence position, and an animal quarantine station.

Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) chairman Neville Baker said he met with Jackson to discuss how his Wellington-based production companies could create a world-class tourism offering on the island.

SUPPLIED Sir Peter Jackson looks set to work on a joint tourism project with the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust to digitally tell the Maori history of Wellington on Somes Island.

The movie mogul had committed to investigate a joint project with the Weta Group using digital storytelling and the latest in virtual and augmented reality technology.

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The project would examine what life was like for the island's first Maori inhabitants and encompass the stories and history of the Taranaki Whanui tikanga through digital storytelling and augmented reality.

SUPPLIED Octane a southern giant petrel is coaxed out of a box byJo Webby a vet nurse at Wellington Zoo at his release on Matiu island.

The trust, which helps manage the island. would seek support from the Government's Maori ICT Fund for the project. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori (Maori Language Commission) would be approached to help develop the story telling.

Matiu/Somes Island, which is connected by a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Wellington, as well as Petone, Days Bay and Seatoun, was already growing in popularity as a tourism destination and educational resource with more than 15,000 visitors a year, Baker said.

"Through a project like this we can demonstrate Taranaki Whanui's collective identity and build pride and kotahitanga through our whole community."

The tourism proposal would complement the partnership between the work of the The Matiu/Somes Island Charitable Trust which worked closely with DOC and groups like the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, to the island's environment and maintain its pest-free status since 1989, he said.

DOC Kapiti and Wellington area office operations manager Carl Baker said they did not feel the project would compromise the values of the island.

"In fact, it will only enhance the visitor experience and understanding of the island's rich human and ecological history.

"More importantly, it is a fantastic opportunity for iwi who own the island to tell their story."

Wingnut Films Productions general manager Dominic Sheehan said the current agreement with PNBST was to investigate ways forward ahead of a full feasibility study.

"The idea potentially involves using various media, including digital storytelling and the latest in virtual and augmented reality technology, to tell stories about the Maori history of Wellington and Taranaki Whanui."

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) destination and marketing general manager Adele Fitzpatrick said the fledgling project was an "exciting proposal" which would "have significant international tourism appeal and be a boost to Wellington's economy".

Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace said the council supported the project for the Island, which came under its responsibility.

Extra tourists could mean it would need it's own ferry, he said

The island was transferred to Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika under its Treaty of Waitangi Settlement in 2009.

The management of the island remains shared between local government, the Department of Conservation (DOC) and PNBST as the operational body for Taranaki Whanui.



CAPITAL ATTRACTIONS

All sorts of ideas are cooking away as city leaders and businesses work to cement Wellington's position as a world-class destination.