Asset group manager Ted Anderson said the repair work needed to take place regardless.
“A discussion paper is being developed and will be presented to a future council meeting but in the meantime the repairs need to be undertaken,” he said.
Although Anderson said the repair work would take six to eight weeks before the sculpture could be reinstalled, some councillors have suggested using the opportunity to relocate it altogether.
It follows Councillor Arama Ngāpō raising concerns in 2019 over the sculpture's chainsaw pointing into the head of another carving.
SUPPLIED/Stuff
The chainsaw of Tokoroa's Pine Man points towards the head of another sculpture.