Plan to scrap suffragette art stuns women's lobby

The National Council of Women has joined the battle to save the threatened suffrage centenary memorial in Khartoum Place, Auckland.

Auckland branch president Vicky Carr says there is "horror, outrage and shock" at the thought of removing the tiled artwork, which was unveiled 12 years ago to celebrate the centenary of women's suffrage.

Marie Taylor, who chaired the women's suffrage centennial committee for Greater Auckland in 1992-1993, has echoed that view.

Vicky Carr has written to the Auckland City Council to express the branch's concern that officers could even consider decommissioning the memorial by artists Claudia Pond Eyley and Jan Morrison.

"The National Council of Women is very proud of New Zealand being the first nation in the world to have gained suffrage for women ... The memorial is the only one of its type and kind in Auckland," she said.

The National Council of Women has asked to join the decision-making and says if the memorial is decommissioned it should be moved to a prominent location in the city.

The council has back-tracked on plans to "decommission" the memorial. A competition to revamp Khartoum Place, which did not specify keeping the tiled artwork, has stalled to allow more consultation.