Dunedin Hospital sculpture removal complaint

The story so far

In February 2025, an anonymous woman who alleges she was sexually abused as a child by well-known New Zealand artist John Middleditch asked Te Whatu Ora Southern not to move his 1980 Water Sculpture to the new Dunedin Hospital site.^{26 Feb 2025} In March 2025, Health New Zealand removed two Middleditch paintings and a sculpture plaque from Dunedin Hospital after two women alleged the late artist sexually abused them as children in the 1970s.^{4 Mar 2025} The organisation also decided not to display his work in the new hospital.^{4 Mar 2025} Health New Zealand then apologised to the survivor after finding her 2012 complaint about the sculpture had been ignored, and a recent complaint led to the artwork's removal.^{6 Mar 2025}

Latest

Health New Zealand has apologised to the woman whose 2012 complaint about the sculpture was ignored. A recent complaint has since led to the artwork's removal.^{6 Mar 2025}

Key moments

1. 26 Feb 2025Survivor asks that the 1980 sculpture not be moved to new hospital.
2. 4 Mar 2025Health NZ removes two paintings and a plaque after two women's allegations.
3. 4 Mar 2025Decision made not to display Middleditch's work in new hospital.
4. 6 Mar 2025Health NZ apologises after 2012 complaint about sculpture was ignored.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.