The stamps are out - but where is Taupo's giant bike?
Seven weeks after the Taupo District Council resolved to repair the bike, and five months after it was badly vandalised, the giant bike is still nowhere to be seen at its former home at the top of Taupo's Control Gates Hill.
At its May 27 meeting, the council decided to accept a free repair offer from a local engineer, who had offered to carry out the repairs to the giant bike at cost. Another local man had also offered to repair the bike at no charge but the cost of the materials. Galvanising, installing the bike and painting it were all extra.
The council also considered an offer from forged artist Marcel Zwezerijnen, who originally created the giant bike. Mr Zwezerijnen had estimated the bike repairs and the galvanising, painting and installing could run to around $17,000. The council's insurance excess is $25,000.
The council was also aware New Zealand Post was planning to release a series of Legendary Landmarks stamps, which feature the man-made landmarks of towns around New Zealand. The stamps include Taupo's giant bike, along with other icons such as Ohakune's giant carrot and Paeroa's L&P bottle.
The stamps went on sale earlier this month, but the giant bike is still nowhere near being reinstated and repair work has not even begun.
In a written statement, council policy and operations group manager Gareth Green said after the council decided to have a local engineer repair the bike, it was approached by Rose Blackley, the original project manager for the giant bike. Ms Blackley proposed to fund the reconstruction of the bike and labour costs so it could be completed by Mr Zwezerijnen.
Ms Blackley has said she thinks the bike should be repaired by Mr Zwezerijnen, because it is his artwork, and he has the specialist knowledge and tools needed to dismantle and repair it.
"People who are surprised at the cost [of repair] usually have not seen the detail close up.
"It is exactly three times the size of a normal road bike. The giant bike was extremely popular with passerby traffic wanting a photo opportunity, it was used by many companies to promote Taupo as a cycling destination including journalist Jonathan Kennett, who is the spoke on the stamp photograph."
Ms Blackley is collecting donations for the bike's repair by Mr Zwezerijnen and welcomes any contribution so it can be repaired before the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on November 29.
However Ms Blackley said before the bike can be repaired, the council must put together a comprehensive contract with the artist, including a maintenance schedule, insurance specifications and ownership details. She said other New Zealand councils provide this for their public artworks, and it would prevent a recurrence of the current situation.
She also believes the bike's site, whether back in its original position or elsewhere, needs better lighting and surveillance so that it is not vandalised again.
The bike originally cost $55,000, of which $3500 came from the council and the rest from the community, although much of it was donated in kind. Mr Zwezerijnen received $7000 for the bike, despite putting 661 hours of work into it.