Life at No.22, Snapshots of Tauranga

Snapshots of Tauranga #35

Suzanne

Sculptures, or most art forms, create conversations, and Tauranga’s relatively new sculpture, inspired by Māori imagery and a connection to mana whenua, is no exception.

Personally, I think public art is essential, it brings a city ‘alive’.

Looking west towards the space before the sculpture installation

It’s about the feelings, the wairua (spirit), cultural identity and visual sensations that it can provoke, and because it redefines someone’s experience of the ‘everyday’. It can literally stop someone in their daily routine and make them think or change the way they view the world and themselves. For me, that is where the value is. Though for every public art that’s created, the same argument for many ratepayers is the amount of money councils spend on these seemingly “wants”, especially now, as many are financially struggling.

One such art form that provoked debate was Peata Larkin’s 7m-tall sculpture, which was unveiled in Tauranga’s Red Square at dawn last November. The $300,000 (NZD) installation is a circular, laser-cut steel sculpture.

The installation is a 4m-wide piece, orientated in line with the rising sun, a significant aspect in Māori culture, has an open design that encourages us all to appreciate it’s openness, and wander through and around it. Its shadow will cast patterns that change with the hour, symbolising the passage of time and the ever-changing nature of life.

Looking east towards the harbour

As is the case with all art, we experience it in so many ways. As the artist, Peata Larkin, is of Māori descent, she and many others could feel the wairua (spirit) and themselves in the space. Whether you’re Māori or non-Māori, we all share a connection to Aotearoa New Zealand, and this sculpture, named Rauhea, is a testament to that. The name was chosen to honour Rauhea, a tīpuna (ancestor) and a respected local kaumatua in the 1920s, thereby deepening the sculpture’s connection to the local community and its cultural roots.

The open circular design symbolised the spring that used to run down what is now Spring Street into the harbour. The base of the structure was made of Corten steel, which would rust and change over time. It was solid and represented a tree stump that anchored it to the ground, aligning with the meaning of Tauranga, which was safe anchorage.

A unique form of sculpture – the cranes that dot our city skyline. The image of the nearly completed construction of the $306m civic precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa, with the library and community hub due to open in 2026. Which will host more artistic endeavours.

Fortunately, in the future, both locals and visitors can benefit from the Font Public Art Trust’s passion for showcasing outdoor art, so we can all enjoy the prospect of not just viewing, but actively engaging with more modern public art installations that capture the dynamism and diversity of the Tauranga community.

Another event I am looking forward to is visiting our refurbished Art Gallery, which reopens this November.

Les outside the “old” Tauranga Art Gallery

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

28 thoughts on “Snapshots of Tauranga #35”

  3. Public art, whether it’s in the form of murals or sculptures always adds colour and life to a city. So many country towns we’ve been through recently on our travels are literally brought to life by artists creations transforming the streets. Love that last shot of Les!

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    1. Miriam, I agree the art brings vitality and in the hope of attracting more visitors, especially to those rural areas. We really enjoyed visiting the rural areas in Australia. I hope to do more travelling around Australia in the future. Bonus, it’s not far to travel😊

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  6. I agree with you about public art, in that even the more controversial pieces that not everyone likes provoke a debate. There are occasionally pieces commissioned that NO ONE likes and it’s arguable they were perhaps a waste of funding, but on the whole I think money spent making a community more attractive is money well spent. It brings people together, gives them a sense of belonging somewhere and can deter anti-social behaviour. As for this sculpture, I liked it when I first saw your photo and liked it even more when I read all you had to say about the significance of the various design elements.

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    1. Well said, Sarah. Anything that creates conversations while out walking and exploring a city is money well spent. Connecting people from all sectors of our communities is so important now than ever before.

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  9. It makes me sad when people don’t appreciate art, even when it is public and costs them little (compared to the overall value). They are not introspective and seem to miss the point that life is really not just about food, clothing and shelter. Humans have an incredible ability to create and be nourished by abstract representations and beauty.

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    1. Well put, Eilene and as Anabel pointed out “Bread and Roses”. When I visit a new city/town and I see outdoor art with places to sit and appreciate the space, it tells me more of who lives there than a building will ever do.

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  11. What a great idea having art that you can walk through as well as around. The changing patterns on the ground will create their own art work too. I have fond memories of the old art gallery so look forward to one day visiting the new one.

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