PHOTO: SUPPLIED – Sir Peter Jackson with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, an item from his collection, pegged for the movie museum in Wellington. He is understood to still be in talks with the city council about a final agreement.

Taxpayers are being asked to fork out $25 million to help pay for the $165m construction cost of the Wellington convention centre project, which will also house Sir Peter Jackson’s movie museum.

The project was first budgeted to cost $134m, then increased to $150m and has now grown to $165m, which council documents say is related to changes to the exterior cladding and building design.

Wellington City Council’s draft 10-year plan, which sets out its proposed levels of expenditure, earmarks funds to start trickling into construction from 2019/20 for completion in 2022/23.

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