Life-size figure of poet to stride street

An online Givealittle campaign raising funds for a statue of James K Baxter in a Whanganui street runs until September 16.

The Guyton Group Trust wants to install the statue on the corner of Guyton and Wicksteed streets, fundraising co-ordinator Elise Goodge said. It's where the poet had a final conversation with his friend sculptor Joan Morrell in 1972, before heading off to Auckland, where he died.

The Givealittle page has a video and interview with Mrs Morrell. She has already sculpted a bust of Baxter and is prepared to work on his body if the money can be raised.

The statue would show him as a often was, "striding down the street, barefoot, in the shabby suit he always wore, with his long hair and beard, deep in contemplation," Ms Goodge said.

The trust has $15,000 toward the project so far, with donations from the Powerco Wanganui Trust, Whanganui District Council and Mainstreet Wanganui. The estimated total cost is $100,000.