Town’s art collection hidden away
Deep in the bowels of the South Waikato District Council’s offices lies a treasure trove of art worthy of New Zealand’s national museum.
But the chances of most people seeing the Tokoroa collection, or even being aware it’s there, are slim.
That’s because a large portion of the highly valuable works by the likes of New Zealand greats the late Ralph Hotete and Ian Scott, George Baloghy, and Mervyn Williams are displayed behind security doors in staff offices and corridors off limits to the general public.
Of the almost $300,000 collection the council owns over $145,000 of it and the Tokoroa
Arts Society, which owns Hotere’s Requiem (For Tony) valued at $150,000, owns the rest.
Tokoroa Arts Society member Sue King said the Hotere, which is part of the artist’s 1973-74 Requiem Series of paintings referring to the Catholic Mass for the dead, was acquired during a local art competition he entered. The council houses it for safekeeping.
‘‘Years ago Forest Products funded the prizemoney for painting competitions we ran,’’ she said. ‘‘People entered and got the prizemoney and the Tokoroa Arts Society got to keep the winning paintings. Ralph Hotere (who died in 2013) was one of the winners.’’
Fellow member Bev Westbrook said the Hotere has never been on the market.
‘‘It has never been out for sale or been put up for sale so it is quite valuable,’’ she said.
‘‘Over the years the Tokoroa Arts Society collected quite a few [valuable art works], some of which we sold off to the council.’’
Westbrook said there were no plans to sell it but that could change depending on the wishes of the society’s approximately 20 members.
South Waikato District Council chief executive Ben Smit defended the behind the scene location of the works saying it was appropriate due to their high value.
‘‘Some of this artwork is extremely valuable so we keep the pieces secure,’’ he said.
Smit said the council was however happy for people to view the Tokoroa Arts Society owned works if they prearranged it.