N.Z. HOUSE CARVING

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32536, 20 February 1971, Page 1

N.Z. HOUSE CARVING

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent)

LONDON, Feb. 19.

The erection of Inia Te Wiata’s 50 - foot - high carving in the foyer of New Zealand House is posing some unique engineering problems.

Work on the giant pole, apart from the last touches to one of the 7ft wings which will be attached to the top section, is now finished; and according to Mr Te Wiata there is no reason why work cannot begin on preparations to put the carving in place. Officials in New Zealand House, however, are anxious that alternative methods of bracing the carving be dis cussed; they also feel that there is some question whether the wood has dried out sufficiently. A meeting comprising the High Commissioner (Sir Denis Blundell), Mr Te Wiata, a representative of the structural engineering firm which designed New Zealand House and administrative staff in the High Commission will be held next Tuesday. It is hoped that at this meeting the way in which the carving will be erected and a timetable for the work

to be carried out will be agreed upon. The carving, which combines traditional figures with a modem sculptured effect, is in five 9ft sections. It is difficult to estimate the weight of each totara log, but Mr Te Wiata considers the total weight is about four tons.

The position for the carving is against the wall facing the main (Haymarket) entrance of New Zealand House. It will rise through an interior well, with the totem-pole-link wings being on the level of about the third floor. Because of the number ot people using the lobby it is essential that the carving be firmly anchored and stable. Also each section must be independently suspended, so that the weight of each section does not split the one immediately below it.

At. Tuesday’s meeting Mr Te Wiata will put forward his plan for satisfying both these requirements.

“What I will propose is that a tensile steel bar run from the bottom to the top of the carving,” he said. “At each join there will be a steel plate which will screw into the logs and then be attached to the bah In this way each section will be independent of the others and the weight evenly distributed.” *

Mr Te Wiata will also propose that the whole carving rest on a steel plate of sft diameter on the floor so that there is no tremendous pressure at any one point. Another scheme which has been suggested is to run a steel cable hanging from a bracket and attached to the floor; the logs would then be suspended from it. There are those, however, who feel that the bracket would destroy the aesthetic pleasure which would come from a free-standing sculpture.

Mr Te Wiata said he expected no problems with cracks which have developed in the various sections.

“We have had steel bands made which will be put on each log, and we will then crimp the wood together,” he said. “I’m sure that this will close up the cracks.” Mr Te Wiata said he was anxious to see the sculpture in place as soon as possible. “Naturally I’d like to supervise putting it up,” he said. “I’m at present based in London but I could become involved in some show elsewhere in the world and then it could be quite a while before I was back here.” Mr Te Wiata is appearing in “The Great Waltz.” a longrunning show in the West End.