At the suggestion of Dunedin city councillor Neil Collins, Miss Clark this week changed her previously organised Dunedin travel plans to enable her to make her first visit to the gasworks museum.
Miss Clark said in an interview she was impressed with the museum, which was an "incredible" asset.
Dunedin and Otago were well placed to benefit further from heritage tourism, she said.
Miss Clark, who is also Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, noted that the Otago Museum had undergone significant redevelopment, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery had been shifted to a more central location, and a major redevelopment - backed by a $6 million government grant - was also planned at the Otago Settlers Museum.
The gasworks museum could be the city's next heritage development project, she said.
She believed the museum would prove popular with visitors, but agreed with organisers that it ultimately needed to be open to the public daily, rather than only a few days a month.
In a speech to about 30 volunteers and visitors to the museum yesterday, she praised the efforts which had already been made and voiced confidence in the long-term success of the museum project.
She mentioned to organisers several government funds which could potentially provide some backing for parts of the museum's planned development.
