One of the artworks, Eleven bronze rods supporting albatross wingspan, was the subject of a panel set up to review the university's ownership of the artwork, following the revelations about the late Dunedin artist.
Another work by Middleditch, which had been on display in the museum’s Southern Land, Southern People Gallery, was removed late last month.
University of Otago registrar Dr David Clark said the work, outside the entrance to University College (Unicol), was removed on Friday on the advice of the panel.
A petition was launched last month calling for the removal of the sculpture.
The panel felt removing the sculpture aligned with the university’s commitment to providing a safe environment, given the knowledge they now had about Mr Middleditch’s offending and convictions, Dr Clark said.
These convictions came to light after a Dunedin woman complained to Health New Zealand (HNZ) in January, requesting the artist’s 1980 work Water Sculpture — a copper water fountain beside the ground-floor foyer in Dunedin Hospital — be removed.
Police confirmed Middleditch was convicted 1976 of indecently assaulting a girl aged between 12 and 16 and of other indecent assaults.
Reports in the Otago Daily Times from the same month show Middleditch was convicted of seven charges of indecently assaulting girls aged between 8 and 11, and one of attempting to indecently assault a girl.
A second Dunedin woman has since come forward, alleging she too was molested as a child in the late 1960s by Middleditch after meeting him through an art teacher at an Otago school.
HNZ removed two paintings from the walls of the hospital last month, as well as a plaque for Water Sculpture.
None of Middleditch’s work would be moved to the new hospital.
Tūhura Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin said they were deeply saddened to learn of Middleditch’s convictions.
The work by Middleditch in their possession was removed on March 28, and was appropriate in showing respect for the victims, Dr Griffin said.
"The museum’s board and management wanted to be proactive in addressing the matter in a thorough and respectful way."
Dr Clark said the university's six-person panel included academic and professional staff, Māori and student representation, together with sexual violence support and prevention expertise.
"Knowledge of this offending changes the nature of the relationship between the university community and the work concerned, and its removal from public display reflects a need to re- think the place that the work has in the university."
