Turangi turtle turmoil

The concrete turtle was created in 1967 and occupied Turangi's town centre mall until it was badly damaged.

By Dee Wilson
Members of the Turangi community are saddened - and some are angry - at the demise of the mall's iconic much-loved 47 year old concrete turtle.

The turtle was damaged beyond repair after it was uplifted by contractors working on the Turangi mall upgrade.

Turangi-Tongariro Community Board chairman Tong Kingi said the intention had been to remove and restore the turtle and place it back in the mall as part of the make-over. But the turtle had become very fragile and the move proved too much for it. Mr Kingi said there had been concern about shifting it because it was hollow and covered with something a bit like papier maché.

"With any sort of uplifting there was always that risk."

Mr Kingi says the turtle was much more than just a sculpture for the people of Turangi.

"I think we all have memories. I lost a tooth on it after falling off and it's always been the turtle we all played on."

The turtle was created in 1967 by Tongariro High School art teacher Kate Stallwood, later Kate Watkins, who was asked by the Turangi Lions Club to produce a sculpture for the brand new town centre. The turtle was welded out of metal frame that was covered with chicken wire and finished off in concrete. When she visited Turangi in 2009 Mrs Watkins told the Turangi Chronicle that the turtle was in need of a facelift. She said the turtle was a bit worn - particularly around the neck and the tail and needed some strengthening up - " a handyman with a trowel and a knowledge of using concrete".

That work was never done, with the turtle's restoration earmarked to coincide with the mall upgrade.

Mr Kingi says efforts are already underway to get a suitable replacement and any ideas were welcome.

The mall upgrade which is due for completion by Christmas includes landscaping, a raised area for performances, an area to display artworks that reflect Turangi's history, and a new play area.

Taupo District Council policy and operations group manager Gareth Green, who grew up in Turangi, said the council had been aware the turtle needed restoring, and that was to be done before it was put back in the mall.

He was "gutted" the turtle had been damaged as it was a significant part of Turangi and the focus of many childhood memories. He had played on it as a child, and his own children had loved playing on it.

The Turangi-Tongariro Community Board will consider options to replace the turtle.