June 12, 2020
Hamilton statue removed from Kirikiriroa centre


Hamilton City Council will remove the bronze statue of Captain Hamilton from Civic Square after a formal request from Waikato-Tainui.
John Fane Charles Hamilton was a British navy officer killed during the Battle of Gate Pā in Tauranga.
The statue was gifted to the city in 2013 by electric fence manufacturer Gallagher Group.
Last year Tainui kaumātua Timi Maipi threw red paint on the statue, and he threatened to tear it down during a planned Black Lives Matter protest tomorrow.
The council acknowledged the growing international drive to remove statues which are seen to represent cultural disharmony and oppression,
Chief executive Richard Briggs says it had become clear the statue was likely to be vandalised, which could damage the carpark below.
He says the removal of the statue will be the start of wider discussions with key city stakeholders.
The council has already been working with Waikato-Tainui to review culturally sensitive place names and sites.
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