Rotorua has a thriving arts and cultural community. Outstanding examples of traditional Maori art can be found in the city’s gardens, parks and public buildings. Many buildings and other structures are themselves works of art, with intricate Maori carving being integral to their spirit and character. Works in various media by contemporary artists add to the rich arts and cultural heritage of this unique city.
Hinemoa and Tutanekai – Legendary Lovers in the Heart of the City
Carvings of Hinemoa and Tutanekai are installed on columns in City Focus where the streets named after the legendary lovers intersect. Hinemoa was a renowned beauty who lived on the lakeshore while Tutanekai’s home was the island of Mokoia in Lake Rotorua. At tribal gatherings the couple fell in love but Hinemoa’s father forbade their union. One moonless night Hinemoa took up some gourds to help her stay afloat and swam across the cold dark water, guided by the tune of Tutanekai’s flute. Exhausted and freezing on arrival, she fell into the warm waters of a mineral pool and it was there Tutanekai found her. Albert Te Pou’s carvings show Hinemoa with one of her gourds while Tutanekai calls to his lover on his flute. Albert Te Pou’s work has been commissioned at a number of New Zealand locations, and in embassies and high commissions around the world.
Te Arawa Waka Taua (War Canoe) – Rotorua Lakefront
Housed within a barred enclosure at the eastern end of Rotorua Lakefront, the elaborately carved Te Arawa Waka Taua, or war canoe, is 33 metres long. Historically, trees for these ornate and significant vessels were selected for their strength and length and sometimes left to grow in a cleared area for many years before being felled. The Te Arawa Waka Taua was carved for the Te Arawa people of Rotorua by master carver Lyonel Grant in 1989 and is still used on ceremonial occasions and for some local calendar events. As well as creating notable public art for numerous locations in New Zealand Lyonel Grant’s work is represented in international collections.
Wai Tu Kei – Rotorua Government Gardens
Also by Lyonel Grant ,this elegant sculpture in bronze is permanently installed beside the Museum of Art and History on Queen's Drive in the Rotorua Government Gardens. Wai Tu Kei was commissioned by the Rotorua District Council and the Charitable Trust Board to commemorate the millennium. It represents the contribution local people have made to the global society.
Prince’s Gate Archway – Entrance to Government Gardens
The wooden arches at the Arawa Street entrance into the Government Gardens were designed to represent the royal crown and erected to celebrate the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary) in 1901. Carvings by master carver Tene Waitere (d. 1931), guard the archway alongside contemporary carver and sculptor Jamie Pickernell’s distinctive picket fence.
At other points throughout Rotorua, visitors will find both traditional and contemporary art. Functional art is prominent in the city. Stained glass, mosaics, carvings, painting, and organic elements such as stones or shells are incorporated into many structures. Statues and monuments commemorate past events, colourful flags celebrate special occasions, metal trout emblems at kerbside drainage grates are a reminder not to discharge contaminants. Taking the time to observe the very accessible public art in Rotorua will bring visitors closer to understanding and enjoying the unique character of this city.
Lyn Rasmussen - Lyn is a New Zealander who lives in the centre of New Zealand's Volcanic Wonderland. She has been recognised for her writing across ...
