A555294 Page 1 of 5

15/103

Subject: Hawaiki Tūranga (Gateway Sculpture)

Prepared by: Peter Higgs (Deputy Chief Executive)

Meeting Date: 16 April 2015

Report to COUNCIL for noting

SUMMARY

The Harbourview Body Corporate Committee has expressed concern at the siting of the Hawaiki (Gateway) sculpture on the Council reserve adjacent to the mouth of the Waikanae Stream. They cite the lack of consultation in the resource consent application process and the potential impact it will have on the views from their apartments.

The Group Manager Planning & Development and myself met on site with the committee on 6 December 2014 to discuss possible options. I have met with the sculptor and (at time of writing) I will have met the committee again on 15 April 2015.

This report provides background to the proposed sculpture and its siting.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council

1. receives the report.

Peter Higgs Deputy Chief Executive Group Manager Engineering & Works

Keywords: Hawaiki Tūranga, Gateway Sculpture

A555294 Page 2 of 5

1. BACKGROUND

In September 1998 an agreement was entered into by Council and Te Whanau a Iwi, Ngai Tawhiri, Ngati Oneone, and Tangata Whenua representatives. The purpose of that agreement was to establish protocols relating to the recognition, protection and accommodation of wahi tapu on the Heinz-Wattie site in the event of demolition of the buildings situated there. The Protocol (finalised in 2000) involved the recognition of the hapu and iwi through a permanent artwork on the site.

Te Runanga O Tūranganui A Kiwa has been involved throughout the development of the Protocol and the subsequent process and have been given a mandate by the iwi of Tūranga to represent the iwi in relation to the Hawaiki Tūranga project.

To fulfil its obligations under the Protocol Council set aside $100,000.

Local artist Matt Randell, who has the support of Tūranga iwi and hapu, was selected by Council and Tūranga iwi to create the sculpture.

The proposed sculpture has two separate pieces, these being the main sculpture representing the front of a wharenui (the Wharenui sculpture) and a poutokomanawa (the centre ridge post of a Wharenui) representing Ruapani (the Ruapani sculpture).

This was the subject of a feature article in the Gisborne Herald on 16 February 2013 (refer attached).

In total the artwork is estimated to cost $355,000. This price reflects the use of materials required to make the structure (i.e. bronze). Fundraising applications have successfully been made to meet the $255,000 shortfall (in addition to Council’s original $100,000 commitment).

2. REPORTS TO COMMITTEES AND COUNCIL

The Tūranganui River Sculpture was considered by Council at its meeting on 24 June 2010 in the Chief Executive’s activity report and again on 28 June 2012.

At its meeting on 14 November 2012, the Community Development Committee considered a funding schedule that had been prepared for this major artwork to be sited on the former Heinz-Wattie site.

At the Community Development Committee held on 5 December 2012 it was requested that an update be provided on the Tūranganui River sculpture. A report was presented to the Committee on 13 February 2013 and provided information outlining the progress to date. A presentation was also given by the artist to the committee showing some of the illustrations and concepts of the artwork.

This was included as a major Council project in the 2012-2022 Ten Year Plan. The plan refers to the “Tūranganui Walkway Art Project”. It provided an artist’s view and identified that the grassed area alongside the Tūranganui walkway and adjacent to the Waikanae Stream had intentionally been left clear for a sculpture.

A resource consent was approved by an independent commissioner in February 2012.

A555294 Page 3 of 5

3. LOCATION AND DESIGN OF THE ARTWORK (refer attached artist’s impressions)

The proposed artwork named “Hawaiki Tūranga” is to be located in the south-western corner of the reserve standing 6.3m high and 17m wide. It will be a prominent marker to the entrance of the Tūranganui River and Waikanae Creek. The site has intentionally been left as open space for the purpose of placing an artwork that recognises the iwi and hapu of the area as well as the navigational and occupational histories of the area.

The sculpture is based on “Ruapani”, a paramount Chief of Tūranga who has a common thread to all tribes of Tairāwhiti. The design of the sculpture will encapsulate the themes of powhiri, navigations and occupations. The entire artwork will convey the histories of Tūranga through acknowledgement of tipuna such as Ruapani, Hiharore, Paraki, Parata, Maia, Kiwa, Paoa as well as other mnemonic symbols associated with navigational and occupational histories of those who have mana whenua in Tūranga.

The main part of the sculpture, the waharoa (gateway), will be set back approximately 20m from the Tūranganui River and 8m from the Waikanae Stream. A bronze statue of Ruapani will be erected approximately 12m behind the waharoa. The structure will not occupy a large amount of ground space. Users of the reserve are unlikely to be restricted by the location of the sculpture. The sculpture will be highly visible from a number of vantage points including Customhouse Street, the adjacent apartment building, Tūranganui River and nearby reserve land.

The report of the consent commissioner noted that:

“The sculpture has the potential to alter the views from some of the apartments. Rather than block the views, the sculpture will be visible in the foreground when looking at the distant views of the ocean, Te Kuri o Paoa and the wider landscape. The orientation of the sculpture within the site will limit the visual impact for residents in the adjacent apartments. When viewed from the apartments, the sculpture will predominantly be in side profile which is less visually dominant than an oblique view. The 20m set-back from the Tūranganui River will also mitigate the visual impact of the sculpture when viewed from the apartments as this line of sight is already partially obscured by existing trees. Potential adverse visual effects on neighbouring residential properties are expected to be less than minor.”

It is considered that the scale of the sculpture is suitable for the size of the site and the design ensures that the bulk is dispersed and not dominating. The sculpture will be large enough to have a presence without dominating the open space character of the reserve.

A555294 Page 4 of 5

A555294 Page 5 of 5