The 'Walk in the Redwoods' sculpture is getting some TLC. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
The Rotorua Redwoods is a nature-lovers paradise, and no trip is complete without viewing the 'Walk in the Redwoods' sculpture.
Created by the late Martin Tissink, years of exposure to the weather has left the artwork battered.
"He has art all over the world actually. He has another windmill sculpturein the Government Gardens in Rotorua," says his son, Roland.
Roland Tissink says taking the sculpture to his home to restore the piece has been a feeling of coming full circle.
"To get the chance to restore them - it's a privilege really."
Created in 1992, the sculpture has become an integral part of the Whakarewarewa Forest, which is visited by nearly 300,000 people yearly.
Mr Tissink says his father was passionate about one thing.
"He loved art, he was focused on art - art really was everything. He was always drawing, creating. A lot of the things were probably never built, but there were so many sketches and things that he wanted to do. He has made so many pieces of art, some really incredible pieces."
The artwork requires extensive restoration, and Tissink will juggle a business while undertaking the project.
Made from redwood from within its forest home, the piece took four months to complete, with the largest of the trio of pieces weighing more than 100kg.
"I can't believe that he handled those. They are heavy pieces of art. It takes two people to lift them, and he would have done most of that on his own."
Mr Tissink says he expects the sculpture restoration will be complete by late-2017.
