Date: November 2013

The Right Honourable statue Old Government Buildings, Lambton Quay,

Statue of Peter Fraser, Old Government Buildings, Molesworth Street, Wellington (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, 2006)

Summary of heritage significance • The statue commemorates Peter Fraser, ’s Prime Minister from 1940-1949. Fraser is an immensely important figure in New Zealand’s history – he was Prime Minister during World War 2, handling the country’s role in the crisis extremely well. He is New Zealand’s fourth longest serving Prime Minister and the longest serving Labour Prime Minister. • The statue of Peter Fraser has artistic value for the quality of its craftsmanship. The statue seems to reflect the qualities of decency, modesty, and integrity, as well as that of hard work, that Fraser exemplified. The statue also has artistic significance because of its maker, the accomplished and renowned sculpture, Anthony Stones. • The statue of Peter Fraser is held in high esteem. Fraser’s political career is still very well respected today, and the statue is regarded to be a fine piece of commemorative art.

1 Date: November 2013

District Plan: Map , reference 32 Legal Description: Sec 1 SO 37161 Heritage Area: The Parliamentary Precinct Heritage Area HPT Listed: No Included in NZAA Central City Archaeological Area Archaeological Site: R27/270, associated with Pre 1900 Building, pre 1900 reclaimed land Other Names: - Key physical dates: 1989: Unveiling Architect / Builder: Anthony Stones Former uses: Commemoration/public art Current uses: Commemoration/public art Earthquake Prone Status: Unknown at time of writing

Extent: Cityview GIS 2013

2 Date: November 2013

1.0 Outline History

1.1 History1

The statue of Peter Fraser commemorates New Zealand’s 24th Prime Minister, who held the office from 1940 to 1949, making him the fourth longest serving Prime Minister and the longest-serving Labour Prime Minister. Fraser is regarded as a major figure in New Zealand history, and in the especially. The statue has historical significance for this reason.

Fraser was born on 28 August 1884 in Hill of Fearn, a small village near the town of in the Highland area of Easter Ross, . Fraser moved to New Zealand at the age of 26, having apparently chosen the country in the belief that it held a strong progressive spirit. He worked on the wharves in , and became involved in union politics, joining the New Zealand . Fraser was the campaign manager for when he stood as the Socialist candidate for Auckland central. In the Waihi miners’ strike of 1912, Fraser represented the New Zealand Federation of Labour. Shortly afterwards, Fraser moved to Wellington, again working on the wharves.

Fraser’s political career in Wellington continued at the same fast pace as it had further north. He was instrumental in the formation of the Labour Party in 1916. He was imprisoned for opposing during World War 1. Upon release he started working as a journalist. In 1918 he won the seat of Wellington Central. In 1919 he was also elected to the , and came close to being elected mayor in 1923. On 1 November he married Janet Henderson Munroe, a politically active woman in her own right.

Fraser sat in Opposition from his election in 1918 until 1935. He played an active role in the Labour Party, being elected secretary of the party in 1919. When Labour won power in 1935, Fraser was the assumed second in command behind Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage. Fraser took the key portfolios of education and health, as well as marine and police. A key policy was the passing of the , which established a national free health service.

When World War 2 broke in 1939, Savage was already in poor health and at this time Fraser assumed control over the war effort, travelling to England as acting Prime Minister to meet with and Bernard Freyberg, and forging important links that were to sustain the war.

Michael Joseph Savage died on 27 March 1940, and Fraser won the leadership. He remained Prime Minister until 1949, when his party was defeated by the -led National Party. Fraser was New Zealand’s war-time Prime Minister, a difficult job that he is widely regarded to have handled with aplomb. It was also during his rule that New Zealand adopted the Statue of Westminster in 1947.

Fraser’s political career was long and distinguished. According to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara, ‘[t]he historical record suggests [Fraser] should be ranked among the greatest of the country's prime ministers.’ His skilful governing of New Zealand during World War 2 is perhaps his greatest legacy.

1 Much of this history is taken from: Tim Beaglehole, 'Fraser, Peter', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 25 September 2013, last accessed November 2013 at http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/4f22/fraser-peter

3 Date: November 2013

The Fourth Labour Government commissioned the statue of Peter Fraser at the same time as the statue of that stands outside the State Services Commission building on Molesworth Street. The brief for both statues, in the words of , was for them to be ‘real life representations’ rather than ‘artistic interpretations’.2 The statue of Peter Fraser was unveiled in 1989.

1.2 Timeline of modifications

1989: Unveiling

1.3 Ownership history

1989-present:

1.4 Occupation history

N/A

1.5 Sculptor

Anthony Stones (b. 1934)

Anthony Stones is a highly respected and prolific British sculptor. Born 1934, he studied at St Bede’s College and the Manchester Regional College of Art, before emigrating to New Zealand in 1952 at the age of 18.3 He completed his artistic training at Auckland Teachers College in 1961. He then pursued a career as an illustrator, teacher, author, and sculptor, and was head of design for South Pacific Television.4

Stones completed a large number of notable New Zealand works. The statue of Peter Fraser is one of his best known, but of similar renown is his statue of Jean Batten situated at the Auckland International Airport, the statue of Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Cyril Freyberg (and later Governor-General of New Zealand), Lord Freyberg, in Freyberg Square, Auckland, his 1995 statue The Pioneer Winemaker, in Henderson, and his migrants piece, Early Settlers Memorial, in Nelson. In the early 1990s the High Commissioner of , Bryce Harland, commissioned Stones to make seven bronze statues of Pacific explorers for the New Zealand pavilion at the 1992 international exhibition in Seville.5 Stones also made busts of Janet Frame, Alan Curnow, and Eric McKormick, which are located at the National Library, Frank Sargeson, at the Takapuna Library, and CK Stead, Maurice Shadbolt, and Bill Pearson, all in private collections.

Stones returned to England in 1983, settling in Oxford. His output was prolific, with his portrait busts featuring in numerous colleges, museums, and galleries. His bronze sculpture of Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) atop a horse in Derby showed his mastery of the large scale work.

2 Michael Bassett, cited in ‘Two Statues Commissioned of Former PM’s’, Evening Post, 23 July 1988, p 1 3 Keith Ovenden, ‘Restless, Energetic, and Still Learning’, Pundit, November 28 2008, last accessed November 2013 at http://pundit.co.nz/content/restless-energetic-and-still-learning 4 ‘Anthony Stones’, Jafa Sculpture, posted 3 March 2012, last accessed November 2013, at http://akl- sculpture.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/anthony-stones.html#!/2012/03/anthony-stones.html 5 Five of these statues are in Te Papa’s stores. The other two are Captain James Cook, in Gisborne, and Abel Tasman, in Nelson. Ovenden, ‘Restless, Energetic, and Still Learning’, http://pundit.co.nz/content/restless-energetic-and-still-learning

4 Date: November 2013

In 1999 he was elected president of the British Society of Portrait Sculptors, serving until 2004.6 Stones then found favour in China, living there for extended periods. For the 2008 Beijing Olympics Stones was commissioned to make seven large-scale sculptures of The Running Man, which lining the pedestrian path to the Birds Nest Stadium.7

2.0 Physical description

2.1 Architecture

The Government commissioned the statue of Peter Fraser at the same time as a statue of Keith Holyoake (located nearby on Molesworth Street, in front of the State Services Commission building). The aim was for ‘real life representations’ rather than ‘artistic interpretations’.8

Wellington curator Aaron Lister wrote this of the statue of Peter Fraser9:

Anthony Stones depicts Fraser in an informal, candid manner as the politician makes his way by foot to Parliament from the former Department of Education where he served before becoming the Prime Minister. In both its site and its style, Stones’s likeness captures the public image of Fraser as a politician who worked tirelessly for the people, especially in Health and Education10

Another commentator seconds Lister’s take on the statue. Keith Ovenden writes that ‘[d]ecency, modesty and integrity seem to flow out of the bronze figure much as the floods of admiration flowed towards the Prime Minister from an admiring public as a result of these widely detected traits.’

2.2 Materials

Bronze

2.3 Setting

The statue of Peter Fraser is located in the main grounds of the old Government Buildings, on the Lambton Quay side of the property. Fraser is facing Parliament, as if he was leaving his former workplace of the Department of Education to head across the road for parliamentary business.

6 ‘Anthony Stones’, Jafa Sculpture, posted 3 March 2012, last accessed November 2013, at http://akl- sculpture.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/anthony-stones.html#!/2012/03/anthony-stones.html 7 Ovenden, ‘Restless, Energetic, and Still Learning’, http://pundit.co.nz/content/restless-energetic-and- still-learning 8 Michael Bassett, cited in ‘Two Statues Commissioned of Former PM’s’, Evening Post, 23 July 1988, p 1 9 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 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

5 Date: November 2013

3.0 Sources

‘Anthony Stones’. Jafa Sculpture. 3 March 2012. Last accessed November 2013, at http://akl-sculpture.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/anthony- stones.html#!/2012/03/anthony-stones.html

Beaglehole, Tim. 'Fraser, Peter'. From the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 25 September 2013. Last accessed November 2013 at http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/4f22/fraser-peter

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)

Ovenden, Keith. ‘Restless, Energetic, and Still Learning’. Pundit. November 28 2008. Last accessed November 2013 at http://pundit.co.nz/content/restless-energetic-and- still-learning

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

6 Date: November 2013

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 Peter Fraser has artistic value for the quality of its craftsmanship. The statue seems to reflect the qualities of decency, modesty, and integrity, as well as that of hard work, that Fraser exemplified. The statue also has artistic significance because of its maker, the accomplished and renowned sculpture, Anthony Stones.

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 Peter Fraser is a landmark and has considerable townscape value. It holds a central position in front of the old Government Buildings (now the University of Victoria’s law school), defining the front grounds of the section.

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 Peter Fraser can be considered in a loose pairing with the statue of Keith Holyoake just a bit north on Molesworth Street, which was commissioned at the same time by the Fourth Labour Government. The statue also lies within the Parliamentary Precinct Heritage Area, and can be considered in a group with the other statues of New Zealand Prime Ministers/Premiers, and .

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

The statue commemorates Peter Fraser, New Zealand’s Prime Minister from 1940- 1949. Fraser is an immensely important figure in New Zealand’s history – he was Prime Minister during World War 2, handling the country’s role in the crisis extremely well. He is New Zealand’s fourth longest serving Prime Minister and the longest serving Labour Prime Minister.

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?

Included in NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270, associated with Pre 1900 Building, pre 1900 reclaimed land.

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

7 Date: November 2013

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 Peter Fraser is held in high esteem. Fraser’s political career is still very well respected today, and the statue is regarded to be a fine piece of commemorative art.

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 obvious commemorative value, built in memory of former Prime Minister Peter Fraser.

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 Peter Fraser contributes to a sense of place. The statue is a reminder of the political importance of the Thorndon area and how long that has been the case. It also reminds us that old Government Buildings once served as a very important governmental office.

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?

The statue of Peter Fraser is a very good example of public commemoration of a Prime Minister.

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?

The statue remains in original condition.

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 Peter Fraser is important at a national level.

8 Date: November 2013

4.0 Appendix

Research checklist (desktop)

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

9