Hyde Park Corner of a foreign field forever NZ

The New Zealand Memorial is designed to attract attention from passers-by. Artists impression

The New Zealand Government is paying for a $3 million memorial sculpture in London's Hyde Park to commemorate the relationship between the two countries.

Palmerston North sculptor Paul Dibble was yesterday announced as the winner of a competition to design the memorial.

His design consists of 16 vertical bronze sculptures, each adorned with text and images, which will be set out in a formation across a slope overlooking Hyde Park Corner.

The sculptures appear as crosses when viewed from above.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the memorial symbolised the contribution and sacrifices New Zealanders had made during armed conflicts alongside Britain.

"The design is a fitting memorial to the more than 250,000 New Zealanders who served in the wars of the last century and indeed back to the South African War.

"It evokes and reflects the courage, determination and loyalty of New Zealanders who served in and supported the war effort, as well as the accompanying grief, loss and suffering which New Zealand experienced."

Helen Clark said the memorial was expected to be a focus for Anzac Day celebrations in London each year.

She had recommended to the Cabinet several years ago that New Zealand also have a memorial there, and obtaining permission had been a "complicated" process.

Dibble's design had been approved by the relevant planning authorities in Britain.

"I think it is going to look absolutely stunning. It's very evocative," Helen Clark said.

Dibble, who designed the sculpture in association with Athfield Architects of Wellington, said the sculpture would be positioned to encourage people to walk among it.

"We deliberately set the memorial in a position where the main pedestrian route runs through the memorial so that visitors will walk amongst the sculptures, encouraging people to stop and explore," he said.

"Through the words and images, any New Zealander visiting the memorial will recognise home, and British people may learn of the relationship between our two countries."

A number of Commonwealth nations already have such sculptures in London.

The design was chosen from a shortlist of 12, which were selected in October last year from 86 entries.

It will be set diagonally opposite Australia's memorial, which was unveiled in November 2003 as part of a revamp of Hyde Park Corner by English Heritage and other authorities.


That was part of the first stage of development which also involved the refurbishment of the Wellington Arch.

The New Zealand Memorial is expected to be completed by the end of next year. 

Paul Dibble 

* Born in Waitakaruru, Thames. Studied at Elam School of Fine Arts between 1963-67, graduating with a bachelor of fine arts (honours) degree in sculpture.

* Taught secondary school art. First solo exhibition in 1971 at the Barry Lett Gallery, Auckland.

* Exhibited throughout New Zealand, represented in numerous collections here and overseas.

- Additional reporting: NZPA