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Statue of George Grey, Auckland
The Sir George Grey Statue in Albert Park, Auckland commemorates George Grey, the third Governor of New Zealand and 11th Premier of New Zealand.[1] The statue, sculpted by Francis John Williamson, was unveiled on 21 December 1904 by the Governor, William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket.[2] BackgroundInceptionWhilst the career of George Grey was marked by controversy, he later gained recognition as an iconic elder statesman.[3] Proposals to commemorate Grey arose during his lifetime, notably by the Auckland Women's Liberal League in 1895.[4] George Grey died in 1898. Grey's death was met with a public outpouring of grief, which included closed shops and "a long procession of carnages and vehicles."[5] The New Zealand Herald anticipated that the unveiling of the Grey Statue would serve as a final tribute, reporting:
In 1898, Auckland's Mayor Peter Dignan formed the Sir George Grey Statue Committee, chaired by F.E. Baume, to oversee a memorial.[6] In February 1900, a site at the intersection of Queen Street and Greys Avenue was selected.[4] The design was selected by the committee in September 1900.[7] CreationThe funding of the statue was provided by subscriptions and a $1000 subsidy from Parliament. The statue was crafted by Francis John Williamson for a fee of 1200 guineas. Williamson relied on a single photograph from 1868 to construct the statue. Messrs Trayes Bros constructed the pedestal and for a sum of £1825.[1] HistoryThe statue was unveiled on 21 December 1904 at the intersection of Queen Street and Greys Avenue by the Governor, William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket. The statue's opening ceremony included chiefs of the Ngāpuhi, Hauraki, Rotorua, Waikato Tainui and Ngāti Whātua iwi.[8] The statue later moved to Albert Park in 1922 because the memorial was considered a hindrance to traffic after tramway lines were built to either side of the statue.[9]  The statue has frequently been subject to vandals and activists. The head of the statue was broken off on Waitangi Day, 1987, as a protest against Grey.[11] Roderick Burgess was commissioned to execute a replacement marble-coated concrete head. Burgess relied on a photo of Grey in his fifties and a bust of Grey from Mansion House. The new head was attached in March 1988.[12] In 2020, the statue was vandalised and smeared in red paint.[13] The statue was given a Heritage New Zealand category 1 rating in 1990.[1] CompositionThe statue is crafted from marble, with a base and pedestal made from local stone. The steps are constructed from Tamaki scoria, and the pedestal is formed from Coromandel tonalite. The replacement head is reinforced with a brass rod and filled with cement for added stability.[1] The statue, as it stands today, was described by the Dunstan Times as:
InscriptionsThere is an inscription on each side of the statue's plinth. James Carroll authored the rear inscription in the Māori language.[15] These inscriptions read as follows:[16]
ReceptionThe statue was well received at its opening. Premier Richard Seddon described the statue as 'a striking work of monumental art,' whilst the New Zealand Herald admired 'the erect and dignified bearing' of the statue and praised the Māori inscription on the statue. Māori chiefs present at the opening remarked that they were 'pleased with the honourable recognition of Sir George Grey.'[17] Subsequent evaluations of the statue by Māori have been negative. After the statue's decapitation, Māori academic Ranginui Walker described Grey as the 'hitman of colonisation' who deserved to 'get his head knocked off.'[18] Art historians have criticised the statue for its 'stiffness and staidness', with Michael Dunn criticising the final pose as being "unimaginative in conception".[11] Gallery
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