Summarised by Centrist
Green MP Tamatha Paul wants Wellington’s statues of colonial figures removed from New Zealand’s protected heritage list, calling them celebrations of “thieving criminal colonisers.”
Her proposed amendment to the Resource Management Act would allow Parliament to strip heritage status from the William Wakefield monument at the Basin Reserve, Edward Wakefield’s bust on Mt Victoria, and the Queen Victoria statue on Cambridge Terrace.
“For some reason, we have this monument dedicated to [William Wakefield], which ironically sits on a space where there used to be vast wetlands… and now it’s a monument to a thieving coloniser,” Paul said. “We should not continue to honour people who caused trauma and harm.”
Paul compared her plan to how National’s Chris Bishop removed protections from the Gordon Wilson Flats. However, Bishop’s office stated that there was “no chance” the Greens would find support for a similar move.
Even if Parliament passed such an amendment, Wellington City Council would still have to vote on the statues’ removal, and several councillors are firmly opposed. However, Mayor Tory Whanau backed the principle of ensuring public spaces reflect modern values.
“These memorials were created by previous generations of Wellingtonians,” said councillor Tony Randle. “We disrespect them by erasing their wish to remember the founders of our city.”
Councillor Nicola Young said she was “disappointed Tamatha Paul is attacking monuments that many Wellingtonians are fond of.”
