A striking new sculpture has been unveiled to welcome the people of Marahau’s past, present and future.
The artwork, which takes the form of two waka and stands at more than 5 metres high, is made from painted aluminium and carved wood.
Tim Wraight, who has lived in Marahau for 15 years, was commissioned by the Marahau Sandy Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association to create a work of art that “reflects the relationship of the community with their beautiful environment and to welcome visitors to this special place”.
“It has been wonderful to be able to create a work for my community which reflects our values and honours the special environment in which we live,” Tim says.
“The patterns cut into the aluminium represent the natural world we live in, and the two waka forms represent all the people who have lived here in the past, present and in the future.”
Tim’s workshop is a converted tobacco kiln that overlooks the estuary where the sculpture stands.
He says the piece took most of this year to create, and the process involved metal fabricators, spray painters and other local businesses, as well as his own woodcarving skills, “so a big effort by many”.
On Saturday, 7 December, the communities of Marahau and Otuwhero gathered to unveil and bless the sculpture, which cost $80,000 to construct.
Just under half of this total was donated by the Dallimore and Sanders family trusts, both families having a long association with Marahau.
The Rata Foundation donated $15,000, and the Marahau Pledge matched individual donations to reach the final total.
