Xmas tree proves cone-tentious
Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Monstrosity, post-modern kitsch or genius commentary on the frustrations of navigating the city’s multitude road works?
Whichever, Courtenay Place’s recently erected Christmas tree is certainly proving controversial.
Sure, it has cones, but these are not the woody-scented pine cones traditionally associated with the festive season. These are specially purchased multi-coloured plastic road cones.
It has trinkets and baubles, and a modicum of fake foliage. It’s topped by a large red ball, similar to a clown’s nose. Bedecked, but not at all like its spectacular yuletide counterpart in Midland Park, at the big end of town.
That said, it does have a very Wellington feel to it, and there’s a certain synchronicity to its placement adjacent to Taranaki St. The street is one of the city centre’s busiest carriageways and is dripping with construction-related paraphernalia, including armies of orange road cones.
Yet if, as has been said many, many times before, art really is in the eye of the beholder then the beholders of the Courtenay Place Christmas tree are unanimous. This is definitely not art.
“Looks like a child’s school project,” railed one online critic.
“Needs more water leaking out of it,” said another, in an unsubtle dig at the city’s disintegrating underground pipes.
“I suspect Dolly Parton’s quote is very apt in this context: It costs a lot of money to look this cheap”
“This is just a pisstake right? The real tree is still due to come.. right?” It goes on.
Not wanting to be accused of lazy journalism, The Post forayed into the thick of it, to carry out a very unscientific survey of passers-by.
“I don’t know.” said Elle Henderson, sitting on a bench beneath it. “I’m probably the last person to ask. I don’t really do Christmas. It’s OK I suppose.”
Kirby Selchow was more enthusiastic, comparing it to Cuba St’s bucket fountain, another controversial Wellington feature. “I love it. It suits the location,” she said nodding towards the roadworks.
And then there was the chap who wanted to remain anonymous. He thought for a moment, then a few moments more. “It looks a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it? It’s bizarre, like everything else in Courtenay Place.”
No-one particularly liked the large plinth that it stands on, either. Resembling a giant Xmas present it is so tall the littlest locals could well miss sighting the actual tree. The general consensus was “it’s just weird.”
As well as trees in Courtenay Place and Midland Park, there’s also one at Queens Wharf plaza.
They are part of the Council’s Christmas in the Quarters festival, taking place in four different parts of the city over four weekends. Event management company, Chameleon Events, has been contracted by the council to manage the festival.
Council spokesperson Victoria Barton-Chapple said the cone-tentious tree was made by contractors to a design provided to Chameleon. The coloured cones were not recycled, but were purchased specifically for it.
The council didn’t have an itemised cost breakdown for the tree as it was part of the project to decorate the city, she said.
Council’s manager city events Stephen Blackburn said the events were smaller versions of previous years, because of the number of infrastructure projects happening at the moment.
The cone Christmas tree was a bit of “playful fun”, as were the “elves” who would be wearing hi-vis vests and road cone hats throughout the festivities.
He said the structure of the tree was the same as the other green trees used by the council and had been purchased with branches to be added at a future date.
The tree had not replaced the one that previously stood on the site but has been added to the city Christmas assets. It would be in place until early January before being stored for re-use next Christmas.
Chameleon Events are a Wellington-based company. Past events it has been involved with include WOW, World of Wearable Arts, the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings; Return of the King, and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.