Matthews said she did not think a prominent place like the council’s reception area was an appropriate location for artefacts representing the city’s colonial history.
She said she put the post-it note on the Duke’s forehead to add to the conversation in a light-hearted way.
“We’re starting to think about what those kinds of images say about our city, the people, and the future, and thinking about mixing them up- if not replacing some of them.”
Matthews said she would rather give prominence to other parts of the city’s history.
She tweeted a picture of the bust this morning and said: “Ugh, Duke of Wellington has found his way into Council reception. I saw him travelling around the building yesterday and assumed he was being toppled. Considering adding a post-it saying “Colonisation sux”.”
Matthews later posted an update showing a picture of the post-it note and said: “I did it.”
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau confirmed she had made the decision to move the bust out of her office to make way for Te Ao Maori art.
“I assumed the artworks already on display in the Office of the Mayor were to the liking of the previous mayor. I simply want to showcase art that I like from the city council’s own art collection, particularly Te Ao Maori art.”
Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said it was standard for artworks to be circulated when mayors changed.
“We’ll take our time to make a call on a new suitable location for the statue.”