Give the public a say

The Paraparaumu/Raumati Community Board believes the public need to have a say on whether council should put on display a Gold Award winning sculpture being loaned to council.

The Board had made a recent request for councillors to support our wish for a temporary replacement to the Tui sculpture which was removed by councillors in 2012.

We have been waiting for five years for a replacement and despite setting up two Arts Panels they have been unable to provide any solutions. 

Kiwi Riders is available

A 2.2m high bronze sculpture titled “Kiwi Riders” has been offered on loan to council by the artist Will Clijsen through the owners of the Scape Sculpture Park.

This is quite a coup for the Kapiti as this sculpture has been much admired while installed at Scape.

And being a bronze, strengthened with stainless steel rods, it is eminently suited to be being installed in a coastal location.

It depicts two gleeful children riding a stylised kiwi.  It is designed to be installed with indigenous grasses or flaxes underneath so that it appears to be flying, skimming the ground – with the inspirational message being that Kiwis CAN fly.

It won the Gold Award at a Sculpture  Exhibition in the Bay of Plenty.

Time for some action

We understand this award winning sculpture can be displayed for a year or more at little or no cost.

As Council and its Art Panel have produced nothing over the last five years we think it’s a no-brainer to display this temporary high quality and popular artwork for the benefit of public enjoyment.

Why wouldn’t we do this? The community who have been denied for so long have a right to make their views known.

The Board is launching a Paraparaumu Beach public campaign to tell councillors we want this sculpture to be displayed.