Ancient wildlife sculpture
Laughing owl
Whēkau, about twice the size of a morepork. Drawn, unplaced.
On paper. Not yet decided.
Where we are now
A specification and a spot. The design gives 1.8 m by 0.5 m, the bird inside a rectangular cutout on a branch, with round poles either side of a central panel. The design also calls for a Māori motif, which is not this site’s to describe.
What it becomes
An owl on a branch on this slope, once the motif in the design note has been worked out with the rūnanga rather than drawn from anywhere else.
Why this matters
It is the extinction on this trail with a place name attached, and the artist’s own note is why it is on the trail at all.
“This one is close to home for me, as the last one was reported at Hanging Rock in the early 20th century. I think I missed it by 50 years! There’s one in the Otago museum (stuffed, not a skeleton) so it will be an easy one to do accurately.”
What needs to happen
1 of 6- Placement decided
- Design decided
- Council agreement
- Funding guaranteed
- Apex instructed and a due date agreed
- Opening ceremony planned
In deep time
Sceloglaux albifacies, whēkau. About twice the size of a morepork, and known for its strange calls.