A 12m sculpture that will form the southern gateway to and from Rotorua on the new Hemo Gorge roundabout is more than just a piece of art - it's a culmination of Maori history and evolving arts and crafts, set to gain international attention.
The sculpture, commissioned by Rotorua Lakes Council, has been designed by New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) tumu (head) of TeTakapu o Rotowhio (National Stone and Bone Carving School) Stacy Gordine and the team.
It tells the Te Arawa history of tohunga (high priest) Ngatoro-i-rangi, leader of the Te Arawa canoe from Hawaiiki, who was caught in a blizzard of snow and ice on Mt Tongariro.
He called to his sisters in Hawaiiki for help, who sent the demi-god siblings Te Hoata and Te Pupu to deliver heat, creating geysers, hot pools and volcanoes along the way, til fire reached him.
"Part of the inspiration for the design was putting a camera down the world famous Pohutu Geyser and seeing how erupted water and steam created a vortex," Mr Gordine said.
"The design is derived from customary whakairorakau elements, yet is interpreted in a contemporary way with the use of stainless steel, rather than traditional wood, to cater for the environment and durability. Lighting will also illuminate the sculpture to create movement and vibrancy at night.
"It's evolutionary for NZMACI to go into new materials and technology taking customary traditional techniques into new contemporary forms as our ancestors did - it's a way to perpetuate Maori arts and crafts as outlined in the Act of Parliament that is our mandate."
NZMACI is embracing partnerships as part of the project, spanning old and new material culture, by working with Victoria University digital design lecturer Derek Kawiti to conceptualise the sculpture digitally and through the use of 3D printers and Opus, to take the model and extrapolate the structural requirements.
"The engineering behind this sculpture is similar to the famous London Olympics Orbit sculpture, but is more groundbreaking with its deep kaupapa (initiative), tikanga (culture), complexity of design and natural geometry," Mr Kawiti said.
The inner vortex of the sculpture is symbolic of the spiritual power and mana of Ngatoro-i-rangi and his call to his sisters reaching skyward.
The outer vortex symbolically surrounds the inner vortex, with heat and warmth bought from Hawaiiki by the demi-god siblings.
There are eight main bands in total (inner and outer) which also represent Nga Pumanawa e Waru o Te Arawa - the eight beating hearts that are the eight iwi within the Te Arawa confederation of tribes.
The sculpture will form part of the gateway to Rotorua, aligning with the cultural concept of a waharoa (gateway) where, before entering the area, you acknowledge the cultural significance of the place and its ancestors.
"It gives a sense of arrival and wonderment, while serving as a sculptural expression of the cultural narratives behind the formation of the region's geothermal features," Mr Gordine said.
The sculpture embodies navigation and travelling, both ancient and modern as seen with Ngatoro-i-rangi exploring the Central North Island.
"Ultimately it's about the community, acknowledging its past, present and future," Mr Gordine said.
The roundabout will be the length of an Olympic sized swimming pool (50m) with the carriageway raised about 3m above the inner courtyard where the sculpture will be positioned.
The width of the sculpture will be 2.5m at the base, with a height of 12m which is 1.5 lamp posts high.
The roundabout and sculpture are due to be completed in July 2017 and is expected to cost about $500,000.