Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

Sculpture a talking point

By Shontelle Campbell
Hamilton News·
27 Nov, 2016 10:22 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Waikato Museum director Cherie Meecham in front of The Tongue of the Dog sculpture on Victoria St. Photo / Shontelle Campbell

Waikato Museum director Cherie Meecham in front of The Tongue of the Dog sculpture on Victoria St. Photo / Shontelle Campbell

Hamilton city's latest street sculpture is proving a popular attraction and has contributed to the Waikato Museum's growing visitor numbers.

The Tongue of the Dog sculpture, created by world-renowned New Zealand sculptor Michael Parekowhai, was installed outside the Waikato Museum on Victoria Street earlier this year.

The 8m sculpture has had a positive impact on the city, igniting interest with its colour, vibrancy and story, Waikato Museum director Cherie Meecham said.

There was "no doubt" the sculpture attracted people and in-turn inspired more folk to visit the Waikato Museum and ArtsPost.

"Waikato Museum has been exceeding expected visitor number targets this year and I attribute this to a range of factors including the exhibitions and events on offer, although the sculpture has possibly raised our profile as an arts and culture venue," Meecham said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She said the experience of the sculpture, its story and the link to the museum and the Waikato River, created an introduction to visitors and a promise of more to come.

The story behind The Tongue of the Dog design is a legend about the Waikato River and its people.

A tongue of water pours from the eastern (river) side of the artwork, recalling the tongue of the servant dog who brought healing waters from Tongariro to Taupiri and in doing so created the Waikato River.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The colourful cuisenaire rods used in the sculpture are a repeating motif in Parekowhai's work which he interprets as metaphors for biculturalism, communication and education. The rods were once used as an educational tool to teach maths. Nowadays these rods are used to teach languages, including Te Reo Maori, by a method known as Te Ataarangi.

"Our exhibitions, particularly the Te Winika gallery, connect beautifully with the story of The Tongue of the Dog, which has highlighted the little-known legend of the creation of our awa, the Waikato River," Meecham said.

Mesh Sculpture Hamilton gifted The Tongue of the Dog sculpture to Hamilton city, with the help of donations received from more than 70 donors.

The Tongue of the Dog has quickly become a popular photo destination, generating posts on social media of selfies in front of the towering sculpture.

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams said she often sees people taking photographs and clustered around the sculpture as a meeting point.

"Artwork helps to bring vibrancy to the city and, being subjective, it opens up discussion between people and becomes a real talking point. It all adds to the Hamilton experience, providing a unique flavour to our city. These original artworks have a story to tell and provide each individual with their own interpretation to take away."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Waikato Herald

Man high on mushrooms crashes car into garage, with a preschooler on his lap

Waikato Herald

'A newfound faith': Rapist says the Lord will help him as he’s sent to jail

Sport

Netball: Magic narrowly lose to Pulse after scores still tied in final minutes


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

Man high on mushrooms crashes car into garage, with a preschooler on his lap
Waikato Herald

Man high on mushrooms crashes car into garage, with a preschooler on his lap

The garage collapsed on top of Freeman Ruhe's vehicle but the pair escaped injury.

14 Jul 08:00 AM
'A newfound faith': Rapist says the Lord will help him as he’s sent to jail
Waikato Herald

'A newfound faith': Rapist says the Lord will help him as he’s sent to jail

14 Jul 07:00 AM
Netball: Magic narrowly lose to Pulse after scores still tied in final minutes
Sport

Netball: Magic narrowly lose to Pulse after scores still tied in final minutes

14 Jul 04:28 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP