Date: November 2013

The Right Honourable Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake statue 100 Molesworth Street, Thorndon,

WCC Image 2014

Summary of heritage significance • The statue of has some artistic value for the quality of the workmanship and for its fittingly formal and magisterial style. • The statue of Keith Holyoake can be considered in a pairing with the statue of , which was commissioned at the same time and unveiled a year earlier in 1989. The statue could also be considered in the grouping of four statues of prime ministers of premiers in the vicinity: and in Parliament grounds, and Holyoake and Fraser close by. • The statue has high historical value. It was built to commemorate (Sir) Keith Holyoake New Zealand’s third-longest serving prime minister/premier, and one of the country’s more important parliamentary leaders of the twentieth century. • The statue has high commemorative value; built to memorialise one of New Zealand’s longest serving prime ministers, Keith Holyoake.

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District Plan: Map 18, reference 38 Legal Description: Sec 1 SD 36509 Heritage Area: No HPT Listed: No Archaeological Site: Risk unknown Other Names: - Key physical dates: 1990: unveiling Architect / Builder: Roderick Burgess Former uses: Commemoration/public art Current uses: Commemoration/public art Earthquake Prone Status: Unknown at time of writing

Extent: Cityview GIS 2013

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1.0 Outline History

1.1 History1

Keith Holyoake was New Zealand’s Prime Minister from 1960-722, making him New Zealand’s third longest serving leader. Holyoake was born at Scarborough (Mangamutu), near Pahiatua, on 11 February 1904, but his family moved to the township of Riwaka, in the area, in 1914 and it is here where Holyoake spent much of his life and where his political career began.

Nicknamed ‘ Keith’, Holyoake was a populist prime minister, famously listing his phone number in the phone book and continuing to walk to work when he assumed the top office. His formal education ended at age 12 when he left school to help on the family farm, though he continued to receive education from his mother at night, and years later he said "I doubt whether I'd have been a better prime minister had I been a better, formally educated man". He first won a seat in Parliament for the National party in 1932 in the Motueka electorate, becoming the youngest member of the House (at retirement he was the oldest member and father of the house). He held the seat for six years, losing it in 1938, before moving to Dannevirke to contest the safe National seat of Pahiatua, winning it in 1943.

Identified early as one of National’s up-and-coming politicians, Holyoake ascended the party ranks, serving in ’s cabinet and becoming New Zealand’s first designated deputy Prime Minister in 1954. Active in farming and agricultural affairs, he became Minister of Agriculture in 1949, holding the previously troublesome portfolio with distinction.

Holyoake became Prime Minister in 1960, and won re-election in 1963, 1966, and 1969. His time in power coincided with a time of profound change for both New Zealand and the world. The Holyoake years saw the New Zealand identity asserted, culturally and economically (the latter in part hastened by Britain’s entry to the European Economic Community). Holyoake also established closer ties to the US, resulting in New Zealand’s involvement in the . Holyoake was known as an outstanding parliamentarian, a pragmatist, and honest with voters. After party pressure, he retired from the role of Prime Minister in 1972.

Holyoake did not, however, retire from Parliament immediately, and was a member of Muldoon’s cabinet when National were elected back to power in 1975. Rather controversially, Muldoon appointed Holyoake Governor-General in 1977, though he was only appointed to the position for three years, rather the customary five. He retired in 1980, and that same year was made a Knight Companion of the . He died in Wellington in 1983.

The New Zealand government commissioned the statue of Keith Holyoake in 1988. The statue was commissioned at the same time as one of Peter Fraser, prime minister 1940-1949, which stands near the beginning of Molesworth Street in front of the Victoria University Law School, in the grounds of the old Government Buildings. There was some disquiet from Holyoake’s family when the statue was located where it

1 See: G. A. Wood, 'Holyoake, Keith Jacka', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 22 October 2013, last accessed November 2013 at http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/5h33/holyoake-keith-jacka; Gavin McLean, 'Keith Holyoake', Ministry for Culture and Heritage, updated 20 December 2012, last accessed November 2013 at http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/keith-holyoake; 2 Though he did serve as Prime Minister for two months prior to the 1957 election after the retirement of Sydney Holland.

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was – they wanted it built on, and later moved to, Parliament grounds.3 The statue was also caught up in some controversy when the State Services Commission building was sold, and the statue sold with it, much to the surprise of the new owner and members of the public.4

It is Holyoake’s political importance and popularity that the statue commemorates. It was built to commemorate him as New Zealand’s third-longest serving prime minister/premier, and one of the country’s more important parliamentary leaders of the twentieth century.

1.2 Timeline of modifications

1990: Unveiling

1.3 Ownership history

1990-2010 The Crown 2010-2013 Zircon Properties

1.4 Occupation history

N/A

1.5 Sculptor/Designer

Roderick Burgess, b.1951

Roderick Burgess is a New Zealand born artist. He began sculpting in 1969, and studied under one of New Zealand’s foremost sculptors, Ron Ranby. In 1975 he was invited to work in England with the renowned sculptors Edwin Russell and Lorne McKean.5 During his career Burgess has received and completed many commissions for central and local governments, sports bodies, and private clients. These include businessman Graeme Hart and the Huljich family. In 1993 he worked on the restoration of fire-damaged plaster works at the Parliamentary Library, and in 1995 he created life-size bronze sculptures of George Nepia and Mike Gibson.6

Burgess has suffered two moments of misfortune in recent years. In 2008 Burgess was chosen to create a sculpture of Sir Keith Park, the New Zealand who marshalled the Royal Air Force in the ‘Battle of Britain’ during World War 2. After a year working on the project a London public art panel rejected Burgess’ plans for another artist, whose statue was unveiled in late 2009.7

In 2010 Burgess’ West Auckland studio was destroyed after some sculpting equipment ignited and caused a large explosion.8 To compound the matter, some

3 ‘Holyoake’s want statue moved’, The Dominion, 30 September 1997. 4 Hank Schouten, ‘PM Holyoake statue sold by mistake’, 18 September 2010, last accessed at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4141523/PM-Holyoake-statue-sold-by-mistake 5 ‘Roderick Burgess’, accessed November 2013, at http://www.montereyartgallery.co.nz/art/artists/ar_burgess.htm 6 Jonathan Marshall, ‘P-lab claim adds to sculptor's woes after studio explosion’, 24 October 2010, last accessed November 2013, at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4267916/P-lab-claim-adds-to-sculptors- woes-after-studio-explosion 7 Esther Harwood, ‘Bitter row over war hero’s statue’, 15 November 2009, last accessed November 2013, at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3063632/Bitter-row-over-war-heros-statue 8 Jonathan Marshall, ‘P-lab claim adds to sculptor's woes after studio explosion’, 24 October 2010, last accessed November 2013, at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4267916/P-lab-claim-adds-to-sculptors- woes-after-studio-explosion

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media outlets reported that the explosion resulted from methamphetamine production at the property and that the police were laying drugs charges.

2.0 Physical description

2.1 Architecture

The Government commissioned the Holyoake statue at the same time as a statue of Peter Fraser (located down the road in front of the Victoria University Law School, in the old Government Buildings), aiming for ‘real life representations’ rather than ‘artistic interpretations’.9 The statue of Keith Holyoake, standing 2.5m tall, has been described as formal and magisterial, with Holyoake ‘represented as a statue in an upright, dignified pose, wearing the robes of the Knight of the Garter, an elite British order’.10

2.2 Materials

Bronze

2.3 Setting

The statue of Keith Holyoake is located on a small area of green at the corner of Molesworth and Pipitea streets, in front of the State Services Commission building. The statue faces south, back down Molesworth Street towards Parliament.

9 Michael Bassett, cited in ‘Two Statues Commissioned of Former PM’s’, Evening Post, 23 July 1988, p 1 10 Aaron Lister ‘Sculpture For The City / A City For Sculpture’, in Wellington: A City for Sculpture, edited by Jenny Harper and Aaron Lister (Wellington: Victoria University Year, 2007) , pp 23-24

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3.0 Sources

Harwood, Esther. ‘Bitter row over war hero’s statue’. 15 November 2009, last accessed November 2013, at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3063632/Bitter-row- over-war-heros-statue

‘Holyoake’s want statue moved’. The Dominion, 30 September 1997.

Lister, Aaron. ‘Sculpture For The City / A City For Sculpture’. In Wellington: A City for Sculpture. Edited by Jenny Harper and Aaron Lister. Wellington: Victoria University Year, 2007.

Marshall, Jonathan. ‘P-lab claim adds to sculptor's woes after studio explosion’, 24 October 2010, last accessed November 2013, at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4267916/P-lab-claim-adds-to-sculptors-woes-after- studio-explosion

McLean, Gavin. 'Keith Holyoake'. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Updated 20 December 2012, last accessed November 2013 at http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/keith-holyoake;

‘Roderick Burgess’. Accessed November 2013, at http://www.montereyartgallery.co.nz/art/artists/ar_burgess.htm

Schouten, Hank. ‘PM Holyoake statue sold by mistake’. 18 September 2010, last accessed at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4141523/PM-Holyoake-statue-sold-by- mistake

‘Two Statues Commissioned of Former PM’s’, Evening Post, 23 July 1988, p 1

Wood, G. A. 'Holyoake, Keith Jacka'. From the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 22 October 2013, last accessed November 2013 at http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/5h33/holyoake-keith- jacka;

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Criteria for assessing cultural heritage significance

Cultural heritage values

Aesthetic Value: Architectural: Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

The statue of Keith Holyoake has some artistic value for the quality of the workmanship and for its fittingly formal and magisterial style.

Townscape: Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

The statue of Keith Holyoake has minor townscape value for its role as a Thorndon landmark in front of the State Services Commission building.

Group: Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

The statue of Keith Holyoake can be considered in a pairing with the statue of Peter Fraser, which was commissioned at the same time and unveiled a year earlier in 1989. The statue could also be considered in the grouping of four statues of prime ministers of premiers in the vicinity: John Ballance and Richard Seddon in Parliament grounds, and Holyoake and Fraser close by.

Historic Value: Association: Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

The statue has high historical value. It was built to commemorate (Sir) Keith Holyoake, New Zealand’s third-longest serving prime minister/premier, and one of the country’s more important parliamentary leaders of the twentieth century.

Association: Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

Scientific Value: Archaeological: Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

Educational: Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?

Technological: Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

Social Value: Public esteem: Is the item held in high public esteem?

The statue of Keith Holyoake is held in high public esteem, most notably by members of the National party and Holyoake’s family.

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Symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual: Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

The statue has high commemorative value, built to memorialise one of New Zealand’s longest serving prime ministers, Keith Holyoake.

Identity/Sense of place/Continuity: Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

The statue of Keith Holyoake contributes to a sense of place in Thorndon as the political centre of New Zealand.

Sentiment/Connection: Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

Level of cultural heritage significance Rare: Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

Representative: Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

Authentic: Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

Local/Regional/National/International Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

The statue of Keith Holyoake is important at a national level.

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4.0 Appendix

Research checklist (desktop)

Source Y/N Comments 1995 Heritage Inventory 2001 Non-Residential heritage Inventory WCC Records – building file WCC Records – grant files (earthquake strengthening, enhancement of heritage values) Research notes from 2001 Non-Residential heritage Inventory Plan change? Heritage Area Report Heritage Area Spreadsheet Heritage items folder

(electronic) HPT website HPT files Conservation Plan Searched Heritage Library

(CAB 2)

Background research

Insert any relevant background information into this section. This may include: • Additional plans, such as those for alterations • Chunks of text from other sources such as Cyclopedia of NZ, Papers Past • Additional images

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