Birds and Stone of Te Arawa

1993

Graham Cooper

Accessible

Type

  • Sculpture

Medium

  • Bronze

Dimensions

  • Approx. H762mm

Graham Cooper, ‘Birds of Te Arawa’ (1993), Tongariro North Domain, Taupō

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, September 2023

Description

A bronze sculpture of a bird in flight is mounted on a raw stone plinth, installed in a small pond. Citing the “Walk the Sculptures of Taupō” brochure, Gail Garber suggests this work “symbolizes the gifts of bird and stones of the Te Arawa voyagers. The Tuwharetoa people left birds and stones on the shore of Lake Taupo to protect and guide all.”

There were originally two birds, but the whereabouts of the second bird is unknown.

See also: