Spectacular sculpture has real golden glow

The cast iron sculpture was installed opposite Museum Theatre Gallery Hawke's Bay yesterday and will be officially unveiled tomorrow. Photo / Warren Buckland. Buy this on NewsPixNZ HBT-1002627

A "spectacular" 4-metre tall sculpture has appeared opposite the Museum Theatre Gallery Hawke's Bay (MTG).

The cast bronze artwork by renowned Kiwi sculptor Paul Dibble was positioned on the corner of Tennyson St and Herschell St yesterday afternoon.

Called The Gold of the Kowhai, it was donated to the Hawke's Bay Museums Trust collection by the MTG Foundation.

It will be officially unveiled by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Maggie Barry, in a public ceremony also attended by the twin cities' mayors, tomorrow at 6pm.

The sculpture stands 4m high and features 24-carat gold blossom petals. It will be illuminated at night from today onwards.

MTG Foundation chairman Johanna Mouat said it had already been well received by residents.

"It's been attracting great attention already. There has been a very positive reaction. It's spectacular."

Napier City Council had been "a big help," providing the site, the plinth and the lighting that will illuminate the sculpture and surrounding pohutukawa trees at night.

Dibble is an internationally acclaimed sculptor, who works from his bronze foundry in Palmerston North.

He is known for his large-scale public artworks, including Southern Stand, the New Zealand war memorial located on Hyde Park Corner in London.