15 Aug 2014

Trust wants giant wind wand rebuilt

1:01 pm on 15 August 2014

The Trust that commissioned a 33-metre high Wellington sculpture badly damaged by a lightning strike wants it rebuilt to the same design.

The zephyrometer, a large orange needle that sways in the wind, caught fire after being hit yesterday afternoon.

The Wellington Sculpture Trust wants the wind wand rebuilt to the same design.

The Wellington Sculpture Trust wants the wind wand rebuilt to the same design. Photo: RNZ / Elizabeth Brown

Wellington City Council workers are tying it down and have cordoned off the area.

Wellington Sculpture Trust chair Sue Elliott said the zephyrometer could be fixed, but she wanted the design to stay.

"We chose it in the first place as a kinetic sculpture that spoke to the wind in Wellington and it certainly does that. People love driving past that and seeing how strong the wind is going as this giant indicator leans further and further over."

She said the Trust has not yet been able to ask the sculptor, Phil Price, if he could make another artwork.

The city council's parks, sports and recreation manager, Paul Andrews, said wind was still strong today and the sculpture had to be tied down for safety reasons.

It would have to be removed at some stage but that will require a crane.