A new sculpture seven years in the making is proving the perfect welcome to Mārahau.
Overlooking the Otūwhero Inlet, TAIAO is the result of a collective effort by the Mārahau community.
Local sculptor Tim Wraight says the idea first gained traction pre-pandemic after the Mārahau Ratepayers and Residents Association approached him to design and create a community artwork.
Funding for the work was kickstarted following early and significant donations from art patrons Paul and Christelle Dallimore and Pixie Sanders, and from there, the community jumped on board.
“The initial donations were a real turning point for the idea,” says Tim. “It allowed us to go ‘wow, we can do this; we just have to raise the rest of the money.”
From finding a space to raising funds - it has been a shared effort the whole way, Tim says.
Local businesses quickly got behind the project as did the Mārahau Pledge, which made an initial donation of $5000 and then matched a final community Givealittle drive in mid-2024 to get the funding target over the line.
“The Pledge has been very generous to the association for other projects and now has been very generous to us with the sculpture,” Tim says.
“We haven’t had to go to the council for funding for our sculpture, being a self-sustaining community, and it’s because of these operators that are coming together. Being funded by operators, it’s just great.”
The 5.5-metre sculpture is positioned at the junction of Sandy Bay-Mārahau and Otūwhero Valley roads, overlooking the Otūwhero Wetland, which has also benefited from Pledge funding for restoration work.
Key materials for the waka-shaped sculpture have also been sourced locally, with specialist workmanship being undertaken by local craftsmen in Mārahau, Motueka and Whakatū Nelson.
“The idea behind TAIAO is to celebrate our spectacular natural environment, make reference to how we got here, and acknowledge how the sea is integral to our existence.
“Another key theme is our commitment as a community to kaitiakitanga [guardianship] of our unique environment.”
Tim, who learnt to carve at Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka and creates artwork for people all over the world, is excited to have been able to produce something for the community.
“My favourite works to do are the works for everybody that can never be on-sold. I really like that collective community ownership,” he says.
ENDS