Passing Red To Shift To New Location

Work to relocate the Passing Red public artwork has commenced.

A section of the artwork, previously positioned on Hinemoa Park bordering Mill Street, has been in storage since it was damaged by a vehicle in 2013. The undamaged portion of the artwork has remained in situ at Mill Street, opposite Waikato Stadium.

The sculpture was created by Hamilton artist Gaye Jurisich, was funded by the Perry Foundation (now the Brian Perry Charitable Trust), and was unveiled in July 2009.

Lance Vervoort, Hamilton City Council's General Manager Community, says the new location for the 200-metre artwork is a piece of Council-owned land in Horotiu – a site which will be adjacent to a section of Te Awa River Ride.

"The Brian Perry Charitable Trust has a significant interest in the Te Awa River Ride, and we felt this location was a good fit for the artwork the organisation had originally funded.

"The piece of the artwork which was damaged has been repaired, and has been held in a secure storage facility near the new Horotiu site," Mr Vervoort says.


Passing Red. Photo and caption © Hamilton City Council.

The two pieces will be installed together at Horotiu, and the sculpture will retain its original form. Mr Vervoort says it's prudent to relocate the sculpture now, ahead of the major construction which will be required for the Horotiu section of Te Awa.  Moving the artwork to a site adjacent to Te Awa was the preference for Mrs Jurisich when the relocation was discussed and sites were explored.

Passing Red will become accessible to the public once the section of Te Awa from Horotiu to Ngaruawahia is completed in 2016.