The demolition of Statistics House is the final nail in the coffin of Wellington’s laser-crowned Champs-Elysees dream.

PHOTO: ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF – The CentrePort complex in Wellington. There was a proposal to beautify the area with parks and sculptures.

While the 14-year-old dream has died, remnants of it have survived, including the planned major revamp of Wellington’s Interislander ferry terminal and the completion of an indoor sports arena – though the arena is suburbs away from where envisaged.

Dreaming was easy in 2004 when Wellington City Council planned the first stage of its 105-hectare, 50-year City Gateway project between Wellington railway station and Kaiwharawhara. It had been part of then-mayor Kerry Prendergast’s election promise.

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