Is this the right statue for Eden Park? Email newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz
It is one of the most famous images in Rugby World Cup history - Michael Jones diving across the try line against Italy in the 1987 tournament.
And now the daughter of the photographer who captured the picture is immortalising it in bronze.
"The moment is important," says artist Natalie
Stamilla. "It was the first World Cup, it was the first try, it was Michael Jones' first game for the All Blacks. It is worth celebrating and represents Auckland quite well."
The 28-year-old fine arts graduate - daughter of photographer Geoff Dale - has made a one sixth scale model of her planned statue and has offered to sculpt it for Eden Park for the Rugby World Cup.
But time is running out for its construction.
Ms Stamilla said she was becoming nervous, because making the full-size sculpture and casting the historic moment in bronze would take eight months.
"We've made it clear that if [Eden Park management] don't hurry up it's not going to be made.
"Wellington is well on the way to getting a sculpture built, and I think we are going to miss out. I don't mind if it's not my sculpture, I just think we need a high calibre work."
Wellington has plans for a 5m-tall sculpture of lineout jumpers, which will be placed near Westpac Stadium or in another public space. The wrought iron and concrete work is being made by Weta Workshop at a cost of $300,000.
The Michael Jones statue is estimated to cost a similar amount. Its creator was confident a backer could be found if the Eden Park Trust Board gave her sculpture the go-ahead.
Trust spokeswoman Tracy Morgan said the redevelopment of the stadium had been the trust's main priority.
Now that the redevelopment was complete, a decision on any additional structures would be made before the end of the year.
The trust has commissioned a report from its architects, who will provide recommendations for additional features around the new stadium.
Ms Stamilla said after graduating from Elam with a major in sculpture in 2006, she aimed to immortalise the moment in three dimensions.
The model would be digitally enlarged into a mould, 1 and a half times the size of Michael Jones.
The artist would then finely tune the mould with oil-based clay, before creating another mould out of wax.
A second wax mould was then filled with bronze, which melted the wax and created the finished product.
Jones was shy about the construction of a statue in his likeness.
"It's a little humbling ... and flattering for this artist to have this real highlight, this moment in time made into art and possibly put outside Eden Park, where it could be for ever."
He supported the sculpture as long as it fitted in with the Eden Park surroundings.
"I think it is a long-shot for a young artist to get [the trust's] approval ... but I think they'll make the right decision as to whether it fits in."
