It is 45m long and is expected to be one of the most photographed and talked about pieces of art in Rotorua. Rotorua's history wall was erected in the city's new Energy Events Centre yesterday morning. Rotorua historian Don Stafford, who provided some of the historical information for the wall,
was among the first to see the finished product and he was impressed. ``I think it's marvellous. It's wonderful in the way it has been put together and I'm sure a tremendous number of people will go along the wall and pick up some history.'' As well as the collage of photographs, the wall features a timeline of the history of Rotorua. PhotoArts director Rod Meharry said the artwork was the biggest piece his company had worked on. It is over 40m long and 1.8m high. While it took just two hours to put up the 240 panels, his staff spent four days ``non-stop'' printing the panels and three days erecting the framing which was imported from Germany. Mr Meharry said the artwork would create a lot of conversation and he expected it would be one of the most photographed things in Rotorua. There are a few errors in the artwork but property manager David Hobern, who has managed the Energy Events Centre project, said those would be corrected in time for the official opening next month. Mr Hobern said the wall cost between $80,000 and $90,000. Meanwhile, an official tapu lifting ceremony will be held at the centre early on Monday. During the ceremony Rotorua District Council director of Kaupapa Maori Mauriora Kingi and Waiariki Institute of Technology kaumatua Ken Kennedy will say a karakia in each area of the building. The ceremony is being held on the eve of the centre's first conference _ the Learning @ Schools conference _ which is expected to attract more than 1000 delegates from throughout New Zealand. The official opening will be held over the weekend of March 9 to 11.
