Source: Radio New Zealand
The carillon’s 75 tonnes of bells have not played for years while the belltower is being earthquake strengthened. RNZ / Phil Pennington
The war memorial bells at Pukeahu in Wellington may have to be played by an Australian on Anzac Day after the local player’s job was cut.
It would be cheaper to hire a contractor, said bureaucrats.
The carillon’s 75 tonnes of bells 50 metres up in the air have not played for years while earthquake strengthening of the belltower has been going on.
A permanent carillonist has been employed for most of the last century, in some periods playing several times a week.
But the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH)’s cost-cutting restructure has put paid to that.
“The ministry’s change process resulted in the disestablishment of the National Carillonist role,” the ministry told RNZ on Tuesday.
“MCH is working with the Carillon Society of Australia to ensure that a trained carillonist will be available to play the Carillon on Anzac Day 2026.”
It was also planning for a regular recitals programme possibly by using Australian contractors.
“MCH is exploring a range of options, including contracting carillonists when required. This option will cost MCH less than retaining a fulltime carillonist position.
“The Carillon will continue to play a significant role in commemorative events, including Anzac Day.”
Online comment last August, when word the job might go was reported, included Margaret saying, “Among the really stupid decisions we’ve seen with the public sector job cuts, this one stands out.”
The permanent carillonist, Timothy Hurd, had played since the 1980s but the bells have been silent for much of the time since 2012 when seismic checks began and the tower was shut for extended times.
It was aimed to reopen it in the week prior to Anzac Day 2026 and have the bells fully operational by then.
Hurd used to play the bells several times a week, most recently in 2018 when the tower reopened on the grounds it had been properly strengthened, when it later turned out it had not and it had to close again.
“Timothy Hurd QSM has since retired. MCH acknowledges his long-term contribution to the Carillon and to national commemorations.”
He was key not just to playing the instrument but to the years of work restoring it, having highly technical input over the last few months.
Another online poster last August said, “Firing Hurd once the carillon is earthquake strengthened (once more) is unconscionable.”
Earthquake strengthening work, costing $10 million, was progressing well, the ministry said.
The ministry restructure also took out the jobs of two historians who mostly taught schoolchildren at Pukeahu’s education centre.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
