Public Sculptures

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Paritutu Community Group Carving

MAORI AND PAKEHA CULTURES CREATE BRIGHT SCULPTURE

Artist: Greg Keenan

Centennial Dr, New Plymouth.

This brightly-painted totara carving sits at the base of Paritutu Rock, and was commissioned by the Paritutu Community Group in an effort to lift the spirits of the local community.

The carving reflects aspects from Maori and Pakeha cultures, and two panels represent the area's hapu Ngati Te Whiti and Nga Mahanga A Tairi.

Greg Keenan used the sea as the theme of the carving because it was a major resource for tangata whenua, whalers and settlers. The tekoteko (figurehead) is named Kiwa and Neptune, because King Neptune is the closest Pakeha equivalent to Kiwa who is the spiritual guardian of the sea.

The carving was unveiled in October 2002.