Councillors' sculpture for the birds

Like the moa before them, Auckland City councillors are facing extinction, with the creation of the Supercity.

But plans to mark their demise with a public artwork have faltered because they cannot agree on the artistic merits of a sculpture of a bird with a human head.

The sculpture would have been funded from $100,000 left when councillors declined a pay rise last year.

The money may be used for an updated history book on Auckland City instead.

Councillor Toni Millar, who spearheaded the artwork bid, said she hoped a "legacy" project could be found, saying the aim was to leave something "from this city, to the new city".

The council's policy was for public artworks to be approved by the Advisory Panel for Public Art, an external group of art experts. But Millar said councillors also wanted to choose the piece.

"Everyone wanted their own say and decisions by committee is always an interesting process, particularly something like an artwork."

The Herald on Sunday understands councillors rejected the bird sculpture put forward by the advisory panel for the grassed area of the upgraded Aotea Square.

Mayor John Banks said he knew a public artwork was being looked at, but didn't know the project was on hold. He hadn't seen the bird sculpture.