It could be another two months before the Kihikihi War Memorial Clock is tick tock.
Restoration and automation work began on the clock late last year, after Waipā District Council stopped winding the clock in 2017 due to safety concerns.
Thieves and Covid have contributed to delays in getting the Kihikihi Clock to tell the right time.
The bulk of the restoration work was recently completed, and the clock has been operating for several weeks.
But as pointed out by numerous Kihikihi residents online, it still doesn’t tell the correct time.
Council told The News that this is because the amount of weight used to control the clock’s time has still to be calibrated.
John Miles, the council’s manager of property projects, says this calibration work is complicated.
He said it could take up to two months to complete, and will require three to four more visits from Pilbrows Watchmakers and Clock Restorations, the specialists who are responsible for the restoration work.
“People can be reassured this complicated work is well underway but we’re asking people to be patient for just a bit longer,” he said.
Pilbrows also maintain the Cambridge Town Clock and are one of few specialists qualified to work on the Kihikihi clock, which was built in 1881.
The mechanical turret clock was manufactured in 1881. Photo: supplied
Miles said it was always known that multiple visits would be required to get the clock’s timing right.
The shipping of specialist parts needed for the restoration were delayed due to covid – and then tools were stolen from Pilbrows earlier in the year.
The council allowed $70,000 for the restoration work, and despite the delays, they expect the final cost to be close to that.
Miles said that the clock’s chime will also be reconnected within the next two months, but only once the chime’s night-time shut-off electronics are compl
