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Statue of John Fane Charles Hamilton

Summary

A bronze statue of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton was installed for seven years, in Hamilton, New Zealand, from in 2013[1] until removal in June 2020.[2]

Statue of John Fane Charles Hamilton
The statue in 2017
ArtistMargriet Windhausen
Year2013 (2013)
MediumBronze sculpture
SubjectJohn Fane Charles Hamilton
LocationHamilton, New Zealand

The settlement of Hamilton (now a city) was named after Captain Hamilton,[3] a British naval officer who was killed in action during colonial invasion of Maori land at the Battle of Gate Pā.

History edit

The life-size statue by Margriet Windhausen was gifted to Hamilton City by the Gallagher Group in 2013 "to celebrate 75 years in business".[4][5]

Removal edit

 
Garden Place former site of Hamilton statue

In 2017, the donor's CEO, Sir William Gallagher,[6] gave an Institute of Directors speech describing the Treaty of Waitangi as a fraud and denied it involved a partnership between Māori and the Crown.[7] About a dozen directors walked out of the speech in protest.[8]

The statue was defaced with red paint[9] in August 2018 by the activist Taitumu Maipi.[10]

In June 2020, ahead of a George Floyd protest in the US, the Hamilton City Council discussed the statue[11] with Sir William's brother and fellow director, John Gallagher,[12] then slated it for removal, after a request by Māori tribal confederation Waikato Tainui.[13][14]

On 12 June 2020, the Hamilton City Council removed the statue of Captain Hamilton.[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "City of Hamilton in New Zealand removes statue of British naval captain". the Guardian. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Bye Hamilton, hello Kirikiriroa? City mulls name change after statue's removal". Newshub. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  3. ^ "City Info, Hamilton City Council & Hamilton, New Zealand – Living Hamilton". 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Catalogue showcases city's public art collection". Waikato Museum. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  5. ^ McCauley, Debbie (2012). "John Fane Charles Hamilton (1820–1864)". Tauranga Memories Kete: Battles of Gate Pa & Te Ranga (1864). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Sir William Gallagher – Gallagher". Gallagher Group Limited. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  7. ^ Hamilton, Scott (28 November 2017). "Treaty of Waitangi denialism: a long, dark and absurd history". The Spinoff. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Sir William Gallagher claims Treaty of Waitangi cover-up". Stuff. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Captain Hamilton statue vandalised in Hamilton's main square". Stuff. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ Rolleston, Te Aorewa (29 June 2023). "Granddaughter of Hamilton statue activist to contest Hauraki-Waikato seat". Stuff. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Controversial statue of Captain John Hamilton has been removed". RNZ. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Businessmen Brothers Honoured". Gallagher Group Limited. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  13. ^ Neilson, Michael (11 June 2020). "George Floyd protests: Hamilton City Council to remove controversial statue". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Controversial statue of Captain John Hamilton has been removed". Radio New Zealand. 12 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Winston Peters unimpressed with outcry over colonial statues". Radio New Zealand. 12 June 2020.