Four Directions Sculpture. Raglan Coast. New Zealand.
S 37° 49.103 E 174° 49.858
60H E 309084 N 5812119
High above the wild West Coast, amongst the flax, is a unique coastal garden featuring a set of four Maori sculptures, known as The Four Directions.
Waymark Code: WM8GC4
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 03/29/2010
Views: 4
A coastal sculpture arrangement is situated in a Reserve along Ngarunui Beach Road, near Raglan. The garden of flax bushes and native grasses features several beautiful sculptures, Maori hinuera stone carvings of legendary beings, depicting the four directions, east, west, north and south. It overlooks the wild West Coast surf beaches near Raglan.
The statues represent the four compass directions. Crafted in them are images influenced by the surroundings like Hector dolphins, music and celtic knots, and maori mythical beings with paua shell eyes.
West - direction of the Setting sun and Hectors dolphins.
North - direction of Fire, the fire goddess Mahuika, Heart, music, passion.
South -direction of Tane Mahuta, weaving, nuture, Mother Earth.
East - direction of the rising sun, Tawhiri the wind God, Sky father Ranginui.
"A project that was originally coordinated by Deborah Fenton along with Jenny Rhodes, Andre Te Wheoro and Wayne Morris from the Raglan Community Board, the sculptures were born out of the Community Employment Group’s initiative to provide opportunities for unemployed people in Raglan.
Te Aturangi Clamp, a Maori sculptor who has received accolades for his carvings both in New Zealand and overseas, primarily tutored the group as well as serving as an inspiration"....Excerpt from an article about the sculptures' 10th anniversary. (
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