Remove Middleditch’s Sculptures from the Otago University Campus and Dunedin Hospital
Remove Middleditch’s Sculptures from the Otago University Campus and Dunedin Hospital
The Issue
Hi fellow students of Otago University/Polytechnic, whānau, friends, people of Ōtepoti/Dunedin and all over Aotearoa.
I am writing to you to ask for your support in the removal of John Middleditch’s ‘Eleven Bronze Rods supporting Albatross Wingspan’ (1969) sculpture on the Otago University Campus and ‘Water Sculpture’ (1980) on the grounds of Dunedin Hospital.
If you do not already know, John Middleditch is a CONVICTED child sex offender. He was convicted of indecently assaulting at least eight girls between the ages of 8 and 11 and one attempted indecent assault on another in December of 1976 (RNZ, 2025).
Police confirmed this with RNZ adding another two cases of indecent assault during that time (eleven convictions in total) over a five month period. Middleditch was only fined $800 for the lifetime of trauma he has imposed on the girls, now women, he assaulted during that time.
As an art teacher that hosted lessons in his house, he took full advantage of being a teacher and a supposed “idol” for the young girls, using their trust to groom them at their vulnerable age. Despite the harm caused, John Middleditch went on to be a successful and renowned sculptor with little consequence for his actions.
There are discussions in place but there should be no doubt in removal being the best decision for the survivors of Middleditch’s assaults and other sexual assault survivors around Aotearoa and the rest of the world.
So I ask you this: should we leave these sculptures to represent something we do not and should not promote?
Please sign if you agree!
To find out more please follow the links below:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/04/dunedin-hospital-removes-artwork-by-artist-john-middleditch/
380
The Issue
Hi fellow students of Otago University/Polytechnic, whānau, friends, people of Ōtepoti/Dunedin and all over Aotearoa.
I am writing to you to ask for your support in the removal of John Middleditch’s ‘Eleven Bronze Rods supporting Albatross Wingspan’ (1969) sculpture on the Otago University Campus and ‘Water Sculpture’ (1980) on the grounds of Dunedin Hospital.
If you do not already know, John Middleditch is a CONVICTED child sex offender. He was convicted of indecently assaulting at least eight girls between the ages of 8 and 11 and one attempted indecent assault on another in December of 1976 (RNZ, 2025).
Police confirmed this with RNZ adding another two cases of indecent assault during that time (eleven convictions in total) over a five month period. Middleditch was only fined $800 for the lifetime of trauma he has imposed on the girls, now women, he assaulted during that time.
As an art teacher that hosted lessons in his house, he took full advantage of being a teacher and a supposed “idol” for the young girls, using their trust to groom them at their vulnerable age. Despite the harm caused, John Middleditch went on to be a successful and renowned sculptor with little consequence for his actions.
There are discussions in place but there should be no doubt in removal being the best decision for the survivors of Middleditch’s assaults and other sexual assault survivors around Aotearoa and the rest of the world.
So I ask you this: should we leave these sculptures to represent something we do not and should not promote?
Please sign if you agree!
To find out more please follow the links below:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/04/dunedin-hospital-removes-artwork-by-artist-john-middleditch/
380
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 12 March 2025