Duncan Smith

Whakatāne has something extraordinarily special on its doorstep.

Within the native reserves surrounding our town lives a thriving population of nearly 400 wild kiwi.

Little more than 25 years ago, the situation was very different, with only a handful of surviving adult birds remaining in the Ōhope area.

Their recovery has been a remarkable conservation success story, achieved through years of pest control, monitoring and dedication by local iwi, conservation organisations, the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, councils, volunteers and many members of our community.

It is one of the reasons Whakatāne can proudly call itself the Kiwi Capital of the World.

So, when our town decides to commission a major sculpture celebrating the kiwi, surely it should be something equally special.

I have now seen the proposed giant kiwi sculpture and, frankly, I struggle to see in it the warmth, character or natural beauty of the bird we are supposedly celebrating.

It may have merit as an abstract piece of art, and I mean no disrespect to the artist concerned.

Art will always be subjective. But as a permanent symbol of Whakatāne and its extraordinary kiwi story, I believe it misses a wonderful opportunity.

Our kiwi are not abstract shapes.

They are living, vulnerable and wonderfully distinctive birds that have been brought back from the brink through decades of hard work. They are part of the natural character of Whakatāne.

Some of us are fortunate enough even to hear their calls at night or see them in our gardens.

Surely, a sculpture celebrating them should evoke some of that magic.

It should also reflect the much deeper history of this place.

Whakatāne and the Eastern Bay are blessed with enormously talented Māori artists and carvers whose work can be seen throughout our district.

Their carvings have meaning. They tell stories. They connect people with the whenua, wildlife, whakapapa and history of this remarkable area.

So, why not invite local Māori carvers and other local artists to put forward ideas for a sculpture?

Imagine a work created here, by people who understand this landscape and its history – something that gently brings together the kiwi, the ngahere in which it lives, the conservation story that saved it, and the rich Māori heritage of Whakatāne.

It does not need to be enormous.

It does not need to shout.

It simply needs to have heart.

A beautiful and sympathetic sculpture could become something local people treasure and visitors remember – a genuine symbol of the Kiwi Capital of the World and perhaps, in time, one of Whakatāne’s most photographed landmarks.

But something this large, permanent and publicly funded should also carry the support of the people who will live with it.

Before money is committed and the proposal becomes irreversible, I would urge the council to stop and listen to the community.

Show us some alternatives. Invite our local artists and Māori carvers to contribute. Give the people of Whakatāne a genuine opportunity to have their say.

We have an extraordinary kiwi story.

Let us create something extraordinary to represent it.

Our kiwi – and Whakatāne – deserve better.