Central Auckland Victoria Park sculpture damaged by fire

A wooden sculpture in a central Auckland park that was being used as a temporary shelter for a homeless person has gone up in flames.

Auckland council say they are saddened by the fire and assessing the damage.

Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) was called to the Homage to Will sculpture at Victoria Park at 9.46am.

There were no reported injuries and the fire is now out.

Homage to Will, by Fred Loopstra in Victoria Park, was being used as a homeless shelter before it went up in flames.

Fenz was alerted by police after reports of smoke coming from the park. Responders found the Fred Loopstra sculpture engulfed in flames .

Loopstra said in 1971 that the sculpture depicts New Zealand’s pioneering and agrarian past, and was made to resemble farm implements such as ploughs.

Auckland Council Manager for public art Hayley Wolters was saddened the sculpture had been damaged.

She said it sustained “minor damage” and was structurally sound.

“Council contractors will put up temporary fencing around the sculpture today, to allow the council’s public art team – over the coming days - to assess the damage in full, with specialist contractors, and scope repair activity.”

Homage to Will, by Fred Loopstra in Victoria Park, has gone up in flames.

The work, constructed from railway sleepers, is 2.4 metres high and 7.9m long.

“I tried to form the massiveness of many of the early transport and logging structures of the country,” Loopstra said in 1971.

“It came off rather well, judging by the response of the city’s residents.”

Post-fire pictures show charred belongings and a pile of burnt branches.

A destroyed umbrella sits off to the side along with the remnants of a fold-out table.

The sculpture borders a popular playground and is close to several bus stops.

The sculpture was damaged by fire. Photo / Alex Burton

The work, constructed from railway sleepers, is 2.4m high and 7.9m long. Poto / Alex Burton

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