Replica of Don Driver’s artwork unveiled at airport
A replica of an artwork that hung at New Plymouth’s airport for 50 years has been unveiled.
The original 7-metre by 2-metre Don Driver mural was commissioned by the New Plymouth City Council in 1966. It hung in the airport from 1967 until the new $28 million terminal was built, when it was decided to focus on a cultural narrative of Puketapu hapū, the historic owners of the land.
The replica artwork, to the right of the airport terminal entrance, was unveiled by the airport’s fire and rescue team yesterday, in front of a small group that included New Plymouth District councillors and Driver’s widow Joyce and daughter Justine.
Joyce Driver said she thought her husband, who died in 2011, would be pleased with the replica. “I think they have done very well indeed.”
The original was made on her back lawn, she said. “It took the whole summer. Fortunately it was a good summer. That was something to achieve in itself.”
The original artwork, made from aluminium, was constructed in six pieces. “He did it by himself, all the panelbeating, with no help except for me bringing him cups of tea.”
Papa Rererangi i Puketapu chief executive David Scott said the original was very fragile, but was being expertly cared for.
“It could be available for display at other sites in Taranaki if the opportunity arises.”
The replica, which was made by Whanganui-based artist Josh Aslund, was a good outcome for all involved.
“It’s an important piece of history of the airport and it has been recognised as such.
“An outdoor setting gives the public the best view of it in the natural light that Don Driver made it for.”
New Plymouth District councillor Gordon Brown has been asking for an update of the artwork every three months for years, he said. “I knew how popular the Don Driver artwork was, so I kept asking the simple question, ‘where is it? What stage is it at? When are we going to see it?’”
It became a bit of a running gag and Scott referenced it in his speech.
It was worth it, Brown said. “Because many people, especially the older ones, who remember it fondly from the airport, will see the artist’s replication has done justice to it.”
Five years ago the debate raged on for months over the fate of Driver’s aluminium artwork, which commemorated the first Trans-tasman passenger flight landing at Bell Block in January 1933. Eventually, it was decided to have a replica, which is designed to withstand the elements, made and placed outside the terminal building.
A plaque would be placed by the replica at a later date.