Vibrant artwork installed in Rotorua park

A vibrant piece of artwork by Bay of Plenty artist Joe McEnteer features in one of Rotorua’s best-used parks on the newly opened Puketawhero Park toilets.

Completed by McEnteer under the guidance of Rotorua Lakes Councils arts’ advisor Marc Spijkerbosch, the artwork is based on Maori stories, history and information.

The foundation of the image is the Moko designs making up the layers of history and depicting a transition through time, building the physical and meta-physical landscape that is Rotorua, with the koru designs representing the continuity of life rolling, undulating, and layering beneath us as it unfolds.

“Amongst the landscape we find the inhabitants of the community, from young to old, all walks of life, they come together here to live, full of energy, in the now, their dynamic movements challenging themselves and each other.

“Behind our people we see the spirits of our world representing the Taniwha in us all, the dragon that gives us the energy to pursue our dreams and push our aspirations towards the possibilities of future.

“Finally in the top of the image are the sky elements. These interlocking parts representing a spiritual connectivity across space, a shimmer and shine that connects us in our common ground, Puketawhero Park, Rotorua,” said McEnteer.

Amongst the landscape we find the inhabitants of the community, from young to old, all walks of life, they come together here to live, full of energy, in the now, their dynamic movements challenging themselves and each other.

Behind our people we see the spirits of our world representing the Taniwha in us all, the dragon that gives us the energy to pursue our dreams and push our aspirations towards the possibilities of future.

Finally in the top of the image are the sky elements. These interlocking parts representing a spiritual connectivity across space, a shimmer and shine that connects us in our common ground. Puketawhero Park, Rotorua.

The official opening of the new toilet facility took place recently with a blessing ceremony by local minister Ron Roberts and included representatives from Bay of Plenty Rugby League, Mokoia Community Association, Eastside Community Collective, local kaumatua, youth leaders from the ER@P programme and council staff.

Creative Portfolio lead councillor Trevor Maxwell said the artwork was “stunning”.

“It shows people from all walks of life coming together and not only challenging themselves as individuals but also sharing the space in harmony.

“I like the league players fading inside a spiral which represents their traverse of time and growth over time while the skate park users are represented by powerful colourful people full of life in the hope to encourage their inner strengths,” he said.

“The artwork further adds to our growing creative community and brings colour and vibrancy to the park.”

The Creative Portfolio aligns most strongly with four of the 2030 goals and priorities, (Vibrant City Heart, Business Innovation and Prosperity, A Resilient Community, Outstanding Places to Play). The overarching vision of the portfolio is to build Rotorua's creative sector as both vibrant and sustainable.

Rotorua Lakes Council Community Engagement & Events advisor, Christine Hutchison, said the park location was identified, through the council’s Public Toilet Policy, as a busy site with a popular local attendance. The partnership with Bay of Plenty Rugby League, who contributed to the cost of the build, meant that the new facility would meet the needs not only of league but a variety of users of the park.

The artwork follows on from a series of toilet murals that included Lake Tikitapu, opened in September 2015 and a new mural on the lakefront toilet completed last week.

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