Water Whirler bender faces damage count
The man who shattered Wellington’s $300,000 Len Lye Water Whirler will face a charge of wilful damage.
Police yesterday confirmed a 28-year-old man had been summoned to appear in court for damaging the $300,000 sculpture. His case will be heard next month.
Wellingtonian Hunter MacDonald has publicly admitted he was the person filmed climbing the sculpture this week, bending it until it broke.
MacDonald was hit by the pole as both fell into the water on Monday. He was treated in hospital for a gash in his head.
MacDonald said he had been bored and wanted to practise his gymnastics, and there wasn’t a sign that said not to climb. “A crowd started to form, sort of egging me on,” he told Stuff. “I was sort of taking it further and further seeing how high I could go.”
Wellington mayor Justin Lester said he supported the police decision to lay charges. “Look, it was an act of utter stupidity, really.”
He said Wellingtonians were rightfully upset and disgusted with MacDonald’s antics. “This was certainly a very negligent act of a public display of bravado which really backfired quite seriously.”
The Len Lye sculpture had been undergoing maintenance after it was damaged during the Kaiko¯ ura earthquake and was due to be back in action this month.