Editorial: What next for lightning bolt?

Tt's sad to see it in its current unloved state, writes Kim Gillespie. Photo / Ben Fraser

A Rotorua icon from the 1990s has returned like a bolt from the blue.

Remember the lightning bolt sculpture from Tutanekai Mall, the pedestrianised part of the main street between Pukuatua and Hinemoa Sts?

Anyone who's been in the city more than 17 years is sure to recall the controversial sculpture gifted to the people of Rotorua by the Rotorua Area Electricity Authority in the mid to late 1980s.

Along with the Tudor Towers/Bathhouse, Prince's Gate and Pohutu geyser, it was an iconic (yet somewhat bizarre) symbol of the city at the time.

The sculpture had pride of place in the centre of the CBD for about 10 years, finally being removed in 1997.

It was always controversial - many did, and still do, refer to White Lightning (who knew it had a name?) rather unceremoniously as The Urinal - white and blue ceramic tiles are kind of asking for it I suppose.

I do hope no one took that name too seriously.

I wasn't a huge fan of the sculpture, but I still think it's sad to see it in its current unloved state, as seen on yesterday's front page.

It may appear so, but it hasn't been completely forgotten over the past 17 years.

According to the council's Corporate and Customer Services Group Operational and Financial Report for the year ended June 30, 2013: "Terry Stringer's White Lightning sculpture has once again hit the radar ... the sculpture has deteriorated badly since its exile into storage some 20 years ago. The sculptor has received many accolades in recent years, including the NZ Order of Merit. It has been decided then to restore the sculpture, in conjunction with the artist, and to re-site it within the grounds of the Arts Village, or as a feature of the impending sculpture trail in the Government Gardens."

That didn't happen and now it looks like Ngongotaha might get a chance to host the artwork.

A pity - I think a quiet corner of the Government Gardens could be the ideal spot.