The memorial to no one: Government department blasted for spending $300,000 on tribute to judge that doesn’t even have his name on it
- New Zealand’s Ministry of Justice unveiled a tribute to a deceased judge
- The marble plinth had no plaque and made no mention of Sir Robert Chambers
- The $298,164 bungle has been slammed as an ‘insult’ by the judge’s widow
A government department has been panned for spending $300,000 of taxpayers’ money on a memorial to a deceased judge which doesn’t even mention his name.
New Zealand’s former National Party government in 2016 commissioned the monument to Sir Robert Chambers, who was a justice of the Supreme Court.
The memorial was meant to be a tribute to the judge who died in his sleep aged 59 five years ago.
A government department has been panned for spending $300,000 of taxpayers’ money on a memorial to a deceased judge which doesn’t even mention his name
In March, the Ministry of Justice unveiled the marble plinth outside the Auckland High Court however it was criticised for only featuring Sir Robert’s name without details of his eminent legal career.
The monument was fenced off and redone, but this time it had no name on it when the covers came off at the weekend.
The botched tribute, featuring an extended lawn, benches and a large marble plinth has cost New Zealand taxpayers $298,164 before the GST, Radio New Zealand reported.
Sir Robert’s widow and fellow lawyer, Lady Deborah Chambers Q.C., said the bungle was an insult to her late husband and a sign of ‘chaos’ within the government department.
New Zealand’s former National Party government in 2016 commissioned the monument to Sir Robert Chambers, who was a justice of the Supreme Court
‘I actually think it’s insulting,’ she told RNZ.
‘They’ve said well this will be a lovely for the family because we’ll have this lovely memorial that will remind you of Rob and so on.
‘Well the whole thing’s been destroyed as far as I’m concerned.’
The plinth has no engraving or plaque while the garden makes no reference to the late judge.
Sir Robert’s family had not campaigned for a memorial, which was commissioned by former justice minister Amy Adams.
Advertisement