A bold new sculpture in Port Charles will welcome visitors to Real Kiwi Country.
The giant kiwi sculpture was officially blessed last Saturday 24 October, during Labour Weekend. The sculpture sits beside the Port Charles Rd, after the second bridge and before the turn-off to Carey Rd, on this remote gravel road. The art piece is the result of months of hard work by Moehau Environment Group and generous locals who helped with the installation.
Moehau Environment Group works to protect kiwi and other endangered species in the area. The sculpture was created as a way to raise the visibility of kiwi in Port Charles. “Up here, you can hear kiwi calling from the roadside. Yet because they’re nocturnal, they aren’t very visible.” says the group’s Chair, Lettecia Williams.
“Kiwi are such a draw-card for visitors to the Coromandel. We wanted a fun way for people to connect the Coromandel as ‘Real kiwi country”.
Artist and project manager Wayne Todd, who has been involved in the project since day one, said he was thrilled to finally see the sculpture complete.
“Getting this piece in place was a true team effort. We had very good support from people that live here. We even had a local farmer come down to lend a hand with his trusty tractor” says Wayne. “But I still had a few sleepless nights wondering how we were going to do it.”
The sculpture was commissioned by Moehau Environment Group. It is based on a 3D postcard designed by Model-Tech NZ. Made from 5mm thick corten steel, the kiwi is 2.5 metres high and three metres long. If you are in Port Charles, pop down and have a nosy. You can’t miss it.