The overall project cost for the sculpture unveiled at the Dunedin campus in October was $112,523.71, including GST, it said last week.
Acting vice-chancellor Prof Richard Blaikie said the figure included the design, carving and material cost, as well as engineering, consultancy, landscaping and scaffolding costs.
The university did not provide a breakdown of the cost, but Prof Blaikie said the engineering and landscaping costs were "significant".
"The university recognises there being significant generosity in the tohunga whakairo’s [carver’s] contribution to the project."
The sculpture, Pou Whenua Tāwhaki, was commissioned by the university’s office of Māori development in 2019 to celebrate the university’s 150th year.
In Māori mythology, Tāwhaki is a demi-god who sought celestial knowledge from his gods.
The work reflected the strengthening of culture and diversity.
Located between the Water of Leith and the St David lecture theatre, it was hidden from the view passers-by with scaffolding, plastic and wooden boxing for more than a year before being unveiled.
The university provided little detail when asked for project updates several times by the ODT.
When asked for a cost breakdown under the Official Information Act in May, the university declined to provide one, citing risk to contractors’ commercial positions and the obligation of confidence with contractors and with Ngāi Tahu.
In the same response it said it considered "any ongoing information requests in relation to the pou whenua to be of a vexatious nature and culturally insensitive".
The issue is being investigated by the ombudsman.
Prof Blaikie said the university had considered it necessary to withhold both the total project costs and their breakdown.
"We have now reconsidered that position and while we continue to consider it necessary to withhold the detailed breakdown of the costs, following further consultation with relevant parties, we have concluded that the public interest makes it appropriate to release the total costs at this stage."
