Waipa District Council staff are asking for retrospective permission for the creation of 10 steel panels to be installed on five cycling and walking bridges in and around Te Awamutu Memorial Park.
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- Mangapiko
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- Navy
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- Shanel
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- Air Force
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- Army
The panels cost $36,149 to create.
Waipa District Council museums and heritage director Anne Blyth and community services manager Brad Ward asked Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board to retrospectively endorse the creation of the panels at the board’s August meeting.
Anne Blyth
“Due to an oversight, approval for this acquisition was not sought at the beginning of this process,” Blyth said in her report.
Sally Whitaker
Board member Sally Whitaker said she thought the panels were beautiful.
“What I am concerned about is the artwork has been commissioned without the advanced approval.”
Deputy chair Kane Titchener asked: “If it’s already been designed and created, what are we actually approving?”
Ward answered: “It has to be signed off by council, and they’ll be looking to do that in their September meeting, but usually we come to the board for an endorsement.
“At this point we have put measures in place to make sure that we do catch those going forward. An example of that is that we have now got kickstart meetings for all of our projects so that all of the ins and outs of the project are captured early on in the piece so that we don’t get to the same situation.”
John Wood
One of the bridges crosses the Mangapiko Stream on State Highway 3, another crosses the Mangaohoi Stream connecting Mutu Street and Shanel Place, and three cross the Mangaohoi Stream in Te Awamutu War Memorial Park.
“The artistic panels aim to illustrate council’s values to nurture and respect our unique cultural heritage,” Blyth said.
“Following initial consultation with Ngā Iwi Tōpu O Waipā, a Cultural Advisory Group was established involving mana whenua representatives to help inform the look and narrative for the panels. The Cultural Advisory Group identified Korotangi Paki, artist and son of the late Kīngi Tuheitia, to be the designer for the panels.”
Ange Holt
The design focus on the confluence of the Mangaohoi and Mangapiko streams and the significance of Kaipaka Pā.
The Returned Services Association also worked on a panel for each Te Awamutu War Memorial Park bridge outside of the project.
Manufacture of panels began in February 2023, and they are ready for installation.
A ceremony is being organised in partnership with mana whenua and the RSA.
Board member John Wood proposed the panels be endorsed by the board, councillor Lou Brown seconded the motion, and the board agreed.
“They look beautiful,” chair Ange Holt. “It’s going to be exciting to see them all up.”
