A nearly half-a-century-old copper sculpture by convicted child sex offender and artist John Middleditch has been uprooted from Dunedin Hospital.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) says the artwork has been moved into storage and its future is now out of its hands.
Meanwhile, a Dunedin survivor of historical sexual abuse says she is "thrilled" the artwork has been taken down.
HNZ announced in early March none of the late Dunedin-born artist’s work would appear in the new hospital.
At the time, it removed the plaque for the 1980 artwork Water Sculpture and two paintings from the walls of the hospital.
Southern interim group director of operations Craig Ashton confirmed yesterday the sculpture had been removed from the hospital’s main foyer before Easter.
"The sculpture is owned by the Healthcare Otago Charitable Trust and is now in storage.
"Any decision on the future of the sculpture sits with the trust."
A blessing of the site would occur later this week, Mr Ashton said.
Middleditch’s convictions came to light after a Dunedin woman in January called for the prominent water feature to be removed and not relocated to the new site.
She alleged Middleditch sexually abused her in 1972, when she was 11.
The survivor, who asked to remain anonymous, said yesterday she was "thrilled" and "quite stunned" by the sculpture’s removal.
She had initially been told at a meeting with HNZ it would take some time to remove it, and screening would be placed around the artwork so people did not have to look at it.
"I was quite surprised when they told me that it was being moved, because that was quite different from what we’d discussed.
"I mean, that’s certainly what I was hoping for, but I did understand that it was quite a big practical issue to move something that’s concreted in, and plumbed in and so big."
She hoped survivors would be consulted and included in any ongoing decision-making process.
HNZ was committed to ensuring its healthcare facilities were a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, Mr Ashton said.
"The placement of the artworks at Dunedin Hospital were reviewed following concerns raised about the background of the artist.
"We were appreciative of these concerns being raised with us."
