Woodville’s tree sculpture deemed too costly to repair
Repair would be six times the original cost
At the March monthly meeting of the Tararua District Council, councillor Peter Johns drew attention to the minutes of the Woodville District’s Vision meeting for March 1 which announced the Woodville tree sculpture would be disposed of.
The minutes said of the decision: “This decision was not taken lightly but given the increase in costs to repair the tree and transport it (to and from locations) and new glass needed to be cut and placed in it (once back on site) it is beyond economic repair.
“Deputy chair Paul Taylor noted that WDV, given the current social climate and the rising costs, is unable to justify spending a large amount of money repairing a single piece of artwork.
“The recommendation is to seek a new piece which will tie in with Woodville’s 150-year celebrations.”
It added: “P Taylor suggested a motion that WDV writes off the tree sculpture and then goes out to the community to seek their input in what they would like to see in their town and tie it in with 150-year celebrations. — noting it is about moving forward.”
At the meeting WDV member and TDC councillor Peter Johns moved an amendment recommending the Woodville public be consulted first before the sculpture was scrapped, but it was lost on a split decision.
P Taylor then moved, “That the tree sculpture is beyond repair and it should be appropriately disposed of” which passed with Councillor Johns in dissent.”
The Woodville tree sculpture has had “a long history” in Woodville despite its short-lived existence.
This decision was not taken lightly but given the increase in costs to repair the tree and transport it (to and from locations) and new glass needed to be cut and placed in it (once back on site) it is beyond economic repair. Woodville District’s Vision meeting minutes
The current WDV executive has been advised it will cost approximately $60k to have the tree restored and made weatherproof. This would be six times the original cost of the sculpture. Vicky Tomlinson
Peter Bonser was in charge of a local group making representations during the 2013-14 town upgrade which decided the town needed a feature on the main highway.
Sculptor Bodhi Vincent won the competition to create the tree, it was installed in 2014 and officially unveiled in the pavement just before Woodville’s Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 13.
A report in the Bush Telegraph said the sculpture had already become famous, a local resident commenting visitors from St Ives in England had noted its presence.
The report said: “It deserves to be famous — it is amazing and at the unveiling as the sun shone on the glass leaves, it shimmered.”
The last mayor of Woodville, Ralph Mountford, said the unveiling was “a day of significance” recalling the memories of Forty Mile Bush 150 years ago and the felling of the last totara in 1882.
Chairperson of Woodville Vision at the time Robin Winter (now Pretty) declared the tree bodes well for the future of Woodville — “somewhere to sit under and dream because we need to do this”.
Soon after the passing over of the tree to WDV’s jurisdiction, however, the steel began to rust and pieces of glass fell — endangering the public.
The sculpture was removed pending its repair.
Robin Pretty recalls that its galvanising and refurbishment was in hand, the company charged with removing the sculpture had offered to repair it and a local artist was prepared to replace the glass but during the changeover of WDV personnel following the
local body elections in 2019, the momentum was lost and offers withdrawn.
Current WDV chairwoman Vicky Tomlinson says in reply to a request for more information, “The current WDV executive has been advised it will cost approximately $60k to have the tree restored and made weatherproof. This would be six times the original cost of the sculpture.
“The executive thought this amount was too much to fundraise and that a new sculpture could be commissioned and installed for much lower cost.
“The new sculpture could be linked to the Woodville 150th Celebrations (coming up in 2025). The difference in cost could then be spent on other community initiatives.”
In an email councillor Peter Johns said, “While the development of a skate park is perhaps the current priority for WDV, a project that I support wholeheartedly, it should not however, preclude WDV from looking after it’s significant feature assets that residents have come to love.
“If WDV doesn’t care, perhaps there are enough other residents who do. In the meantime the status quo should remain.”
Tararua District councillors at Wednesday’s meeting, expressed disappointment the tree could not be saved, agreeing it had become iconic.