New Zealand Walk
Left:Gina Ferguson’s “Sheep Track”. Above right: Sparkling blue waters in Martaitai Bay.
celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Waiheke Community Art Gallery’s biennial sculpture exhibition. “The figures show it has been a stellar year for the exhibition,” he says. “The financial support from sponsors, friends and patrons and local businesses has been considerably higher in 2013 and 45,000 people have walked the picturesque sculpture trail. “The event has had tremendous support from the media and a (number of sculptures sold), significantly more sculptures have been bought than ever before.” However, Mr Tozer says record attendance numbers and arts sales are only part of the headland story in 2013. “The major innovation this year has been the 700 square metre pavilion at Matiatia, which has proved a huge success. It’s a stylish structure, cleverly divided into a number of
24 24
Walking New Zealand, issue no 183 - 2013 Walking New Zealand, issue no 183 - 2013
Church Bay Track
an island art trail
different spaces and featured a small sculpture gallery, a café restaurant and bars.” Mr Tozer says the objective for 2013 had been to offer visitors a wider taste of Waiheke. “Art, quality food and wine, and excellent service have proved a winning combination. A full programme of music featuring mostly Waiheke musicians has also played a major part, and look at the location, it’s stunning. “I think we’ve achieved our objective. Visitors have loved having somewhere to relax after the walk and the way the local community has also embraced the event has been great. From all the feedback we’ve had, I think everyone has found the exhibition itself, is better than ever,” Mr Tozer says. Kate and Mike Baverstock from Howick took in the trail on the event’s last day describing it as “fantastic, the best ever”. “This is the third one I’ve been to and it really has been the best ever; I’ll be back in two years that’s for sure,” Mrs Baverstock says.
Facts The headland Sculpture on the Gulf numbers (2011 in parenthesis): · Total visitors: 45,000 (30,000) · Number of sculptures sold: 9 · Highest price paid: $75,000 for Traction and Transmission by David McCracken · Total sculptures on trail: 30 · Length of trail: 2.5 kms.
The final weekend of headland Sculpture on the Gulf was particularly busy with Fullers putting on extra ferries at half hourly intervals instead of hourly. Thousands of people took advantage of Auckland’s glorious weekend weather to take the 45 minute ferry ride.. “See you in 2015,” Mr Tozer says. Left: Magnificent views of the Hauraki Gulf from the Church Bay Track. Below: Carolyn Williams’s ‘Field Notes’.
www.walkingnewzealand.co.nz