, 24 September 2010
"We are going to have the best entrance to any city anywhere in New Zealand!" says Mayor Michael Laws.
In January 2008, Wanganui District Council resolved to improve the southern entranceway from State Highway 3 at Marybank to the corner of Liffiton Street.
The southern entranceway project is one of a range of initiatives to develop and promote Wanganui as a visitor destination. The changes to the road layout, including the new roundabout, will direct visitors into the city along Putiki Drive and across City Bridge
The southern entranceway project is a collaborative venture between Wanganui District Council, NZ Transport Agency and Void Architecture.
In addition to the revised road layout, the centrepiece of the new entranceway is the “Encounter” sculpture, designed by architect Mark Southcombe.
View photos from the official opening below - click on image to view full size
 
 
The Encounter sculpture
At seven metres high and weighing two tonnes, the sculpture is constructed from hollow tubular steel sections and perforated metal sheets. At night it is lit from within.
“Encounter” is an abstract representation of the greeting that takes place when people meet. The two ‘figures’ represent the Tangata Whenua through the takarangi spiral motif, which is of particular significance to the people of Putiki.
The other figure represents the Manuhuri, or visitor, and shows the Wanganui city grid, introduced by the European settlers.
As well as representing a welcome or greeting to Wanganui, the sculpture also acknowledges the historic significance of Putiki as a meeting place of cultures.
River Dolphins
The new entranceway also incorporates three sets of poles inspired by the historic wharf piles, known as ‘River Dolphins’, at the southernmost end, near the weighbridge. The poles also reflect, in an abstract manner, the three Whanganui River hapu of Tama Upoko, Hinengakau and Tupoho.
The blue poles, with blue lights at night, signal the entranceway from a distance and guide the traveller home.
View southern entranceway layout and concepts (PDF, 7MB)
View the "Encounter Sculpture" fact sheet (PDF, 15KB)
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