Holyoake Statue

Heritage object

100 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington
❰ ❱
Image: WCC, 2014
Image: WCC, 2014
Image: WCC, 2014
Image: WCC, 2014
"The Memorial to the Right Honourable Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, K.G., G.C.M.G, C.H., Q.S.O., K.St.J." Image: WCC, 2014
Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Freeman of the City of London, Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa of Victoria University of Wellington. Doctor of Laws (Agric), Honoris Causa of Seoul National University, Korea. Member of Parliament, 1932-38 and 1943-77. Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1957, 1960-72. Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over New Zealand, 1977-80. Image: WCC, 2014

"Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Freeman of the City of London, Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa of Victoria University of Wellington. Doctor of Laws (Agric), Honoris Causa of Seoul National University, Korea. Member of Parliament, 1932-38 and 1943-77. Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1957, 1960-72. Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over New Zealand, 1977-80." Image: WCC, 2014

"Honoured and respected by all people of Aotearoa." Image: WCC, 2014

Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. Companion of the Queen's Service Order for Public Services. Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
"Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. Companion of the Queen's Service Order for Public Services. Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem." Image: WCC, 2014
Map

  • Constructed

    1990

  • Architect(s)

    Roderick Burgess

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • The statue of Keith Holyoake has some artistic value for the quality of the workmanship and for its fittingly formal and magisterial style.

    The statue of Keith Holyoake can be considered in a pairing with the statue of Peter Fraser, which was commissioned at the same time and unveiled a year earlier in 1989. The statue could also be considered in the grouping of four statues of prime ministers of premiers in the vicinity: John Ballance and Richard Seddon in Parliament grounds, and Holyoake and Fraser close by.

    The statue has high historical value. It was built to commemorate (Sir) Keith Holyoake New Zealand’s third-longest serving prime minister/premier, and one of the country’s more important parliamentary leaders of the twentieth century.

    The statue has high commemorative value; built to memorialise one of New Zealand’s longest serving prime ministers, Keith Holyoake.

  • Downloadable(s)

    Download this content as PDF

  • close History
    • Keith Holyoake was New Zealand’s Prime Minister from 1960-72 , making him New Zealand’s third longest serving leader. Holyoake was born at Scarborough (Mangamutu), near Pahiatua, on 11 February 1904, but his family moved to the township of Riwaka, in the Motueka area, in 1914 and it is here where Holyoake spent much of his life and where his political career began.

      Nicknamed ‘Kiwi Keith’, Holyoake was a populist prime minister, famously listing his phone number in the phone book and continuing to walk to work when he assumed the top office. His formal education ended at age 12 when he left school to help on the family farm, though he continued to receive education from his mother at night, and years later he said "I doubt whether I'd have been a better prime minister had I been a better, formally educated man". He first won a seat in Parliament for the National party in 1932 in the Motueka electorate, becoming the youngest member of the House (at retirement he was the oldest member and father of the house). He held the seat for six years, losing it in 1938, before moving to Dannevirke to contest the safe National seat of Pahiatua, winning it in 1943.

      Identified early as one of National’s up-and-coming politicians, Holyoake ascended the party ranks, serving in Sidney Holland’s cabinet and becoming New Zealand’s first designated deputy Prime Minister in 1954. Active in farming and agricultural affairs, he became Minister of Agriculture in 1949, holding the previously troublesome portfolio with distinction.

      Holyoake became Prime Minister in 1960, and won re-election in 1963, 1966, and 1969. His time in power coincided with a time of profound change for both New Zealand and the world. The Holyoake years saw the New Zealand identity asserted, culturally and economically (the latter in part hastened by Britain’s entry to the European Economic Community). Holyoake also established closer ties to the US, resulting in New Zealand’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Holyoake was known as an outstanding parliamentarian, a pragmatist, and honest with voters. After party pressure, he retired from the role of Prime Minister in 1972.

      Holyoake did not, however, retire from Parliament immediately, and was a member of Muldoon’s cabinet when National were elected back to power in 1975. Rather controversially, Muldoon appointed Holyoake Governor-General in 1977, though he was only appointed to the position for three years, rather the customary five. He retired in 1980, and that same year was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. He died in Wellington in 1983.

      The New Zealand government commissioned the statue of Keith Holyoake in 1988. The statue was commissioned at the same time as one of Peter Fraser, prime minister 1940-1949, which stands near the beginning of Molesworth Street in front of the Victoria University Law School, in the grounds of the old Government Buildings. There was some disquiet from Holyoake’s family when the statue was located where it was – they wanted it built on, and later moved to, Parliament grounds.  The statue was also caught up in some controversy when the State Services Commission building was sold, and the statue sold with it, much to the surprise of the new owner and members of the public. 

      It is Holyoake’s political importance and popularity that the statue commemorates. It was built to commemorate him as New Zealand’s third-longest serving prime minister/premier, and one of the country’s more important parliamentary leaders of the twentieth century.

  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close
      The Government commissioned the Holyoake statue at the same time as a statue of Peter Fraser (located down the road in front of the Victoria University Law School, in the old Government Buildings), aiming for ‘real life representations’ rather than ‘artistic interpretations’.  The statue of Keith Holyoake, standing 2.5m tall, has been described as formal and magisterial, with Holyoake ‘represented as a statue in an upright, dignified pose, wearing the robes of the Knight of the Garter, an elite British order’.
    • Materials close

      Bronze

    • Setting close
      The statue of Keith Holyoake is located on a small area of green at the corner of Molesworth and Pipitea streets, in front of the State Services Commission building. The statue faces south, back down Molesworth Street towards Parliament
  • close Cultural Value
    • The statue of Keith Holyoake has some artistic value for the quality of the workmanship and for its fittingly formal and magisterial style.
    • The statue of Keith Holyoake can be considered in a pairing with the statue of Peter Fraser, which was commissioned at the same time and unveiled a year earlier in 1989. The statue could also be considered in the grouping of four statues of prime ministers of premiers in the vicinity: John Ballance and Richard Seddon in Parliament grounds, and Holyoake and Fraser close by.
    • The statue has high historical value. It was built to commemorate (Sir) Keith Holyoake New Zealand’s third-longest serving prime minister/premier, and one of the country’s more important parliamentary leaders of the twentieth century.
    • The statue has high commemorative value; built to memorialise one of New Zealand’s longest serving prime ministers, Keith Holyoake.
    • Aesthetic Value close

      • Architectural

        Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

        The statue of Keith Holyoake has some artistic value for the quality of the workmanship and for its fittingly formal and magisterial style.

      • Group

        Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

        The statue of Keith Holyoake can be considered in a pairing with the statue of Peter Fraser, which was commissioned at the same time and unveiled a year earlier in 1989. The statue could also be considered in the grouping of four statues of prime ministers of premiers in the vicinity: John Ballance and Richard Seddon in Parliament grounds, and Holyoake and Fraser close by.

      • Townscape

        Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

        The statue of Keith Holyoake has minor townscape value for its role as a Thorndon landmark in front of the State Services Commission building.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

        The statue has high historical value. It was built to commemorate (Sir) Keith Holyoake, New Zealand’s third-longest serving prime minister/premier, and one of the country’s more important parliamentary leaders of the twentieth century.

    • Scientific Value close

      Not assessed

    • Social Value close

      • Identity - Sense of Place - Continuity

        Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

        The statue of Keith Holyoake contributes to a sense of place in Thorndon as the political centre of New Zealand.

      • Symbolic - Commemorative - Traditional - Spiritual

        Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

        The statue has high commemorative value, built to memorialise one of New Zealand’s longest serving prime ministers, Keith Holyoake.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Importance

        Is the item important at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        The statue of Keith Holyoake is important at a national level.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      • Importance

        Is the item important at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        The statue of Keith Holyoake is important at a national level.

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      18/38

    • Legal Description

      Sec 1 SD 36509

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      Risk unknown

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Unknown

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 8/1/2018 2:15:09 AM