Whakatāne District Council’s $11 million art collection is the fifth highest valued – per household – of the country’s councils, according to a New Zealand Taxpayers Union report.

The lobby group for lower government spending and taxation asked councils throughout New Zealand about their art collections.

It has found that New Zealand councils collectively own 71,689 pieces of art, valued at more than $1.1 billion, and that only one third is on public display.

Whakatāne council had 610 pieces of art, valued at more than $11 million, with the percentage on display just 2.29%.

The most valuable was the statue of Wairaka – Lady on the Rock, by artist Jim Allen.

The statue has stood on Turuturu Roimata at Whakatāne Heads since 1965 and is valued at $20,000.

Alexandra Pickles, the Whakatāne council’s community experience general manager, said the reported overall value in the report related to the wider collection housed by the museum, Te Whare Taonga o Taketake, which were not solely artworks.

“The collection includes taonga Māori, archives, photographs, archaeological material, social history objects, maps and library holdings, some of which are entrusted into our care on behalf of iwi, whānau and other owners,” she said.

Ōpōtiki and Kawerau district councils were two of six councils that had 100% of artwork on public display.

Ōpōtiki’s most valued artwork is incorporated into its library, Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi, opened in 2021. Photo / LDR

Ōpōtiki District Council is reported to have two artworks not given a value in the report.

However, the council told Local Democracy Reporting that artwork referred to in the report was not classified as “artwork” by the council but “site improvements”. They consisted of Māori carvings and pou situated across the district and incorporated into the Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi library building.

Situated across the district around cycle trails and park entrances, are carvings and pou valued at $248,100 as of last year.

Carvings, panels and artwork incorporated into the structure of Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi are valued at $282,200 as of last year.

While the council did have donated artwork hanging in the council building, none was valuable enough to be valued or recorded as an asset.

Kawerau District Council had 24 artworks, all on public display, valued at $16,092.

The highest valued work, Log’n the Lumberjack, has adorned the town centre since 1997.

It is valued at $6019 and is the combined work of three artists.

Log’n the Lumberjack is Kawerau’s most highly valued artwork.

Commonly known as Log’n Jack, the topmost statue of a lumberjack swinging an axe was carved by Derek Kerwood to celebrate the forest and timber industries which led to the establishment of Kawerau.

It represents Kawerau pioneers.

The middle section was carved by Megan Godfrey, and depicts sporting and recreational activities in which Kawerau people excel.

The lower panel was carved by Bob Rowlands in the styles of the major tribes of New Zealand.

The statue was unveiled as part of the town’s National Woodskills celebrations.

According to the report, Bay of Plenty Regional Council has 56 artworks with a valuation of $114,050, none of which are on public display.

The most valuable is View of the Bay of Plenty Coastline, by Edward Bullmore, valued at $85,000.

About half of the $1.1 billion in artworks owned by New Zealand councils, $548 million, was owned by Auckland Council which includes a Salvador Dali artwork.

This was followed by Dunedin, with just below $204 million, including a Claude Monet, and Christchurch with $152.5 million.

Wellington City Council, which didn’t respond to many of the questions posed by the Taxpayer’s Union, is the proud owner of a Pablo Picasso artwork.

Highest valuations per households were Dunedin, $3764 per household; Wanganui, $1912; Christchurch, $919; Auckland, $899; then Whakatāne, $739, according to the figures.

Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman Ella Dickson questioned whether spending on art should be a priority while ratepayers faced uncapped rates and declining core services.

“Our report proposes five principles to deliver better value for ratepayers, including making public art public again, treating art like any other council asset, publishing collection registers, using what you own before buying more, and prioritising value for ratepayers.”

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.