On March 20, Ōwairaka – Statue of a Cloaked Woman, created by Christine Hellyar, was formally welcomed on-site with a dawn blessing conducted by Matua Peter Walters with students from Te Puna ō Wairaka.
The work was commissioned by the women of Mt Albert in 1994. It embodies the women, both past and present, who settled in Mt Albert. The sculpture was inspired by Wairaka, the daughter of a chief who established her own pā on the maunga. The Māori name for Mt Albert is Ōwairaka, after her.
Originally installed in Mt Albert’s Alice Wylie Reserve, the 3.6m sculpture was cast on site. Hellyar used vegetation to imprint texture into a sand mould. Effectively embossing the surface before performing a live pour, where 1200kg of boiling bronze was tipped into the form. Once set, the sculpture was lifted into place by a crane.
Sadly, in May 2022, the work was vandalised, extensively damaging the sculpture. As a result, it was removed from the reserve and placed in storage. Under the guidance of Christine Hellyar and fellow sculptor Richard Mathieson, a replacement was cast and installed. A stronger bronze and placement in a more open and well-lit space will help preserve the heritage and commemorative intent of the sculpture.
Due to the contacts our BoT member Greg Moyle has in the art world, the sculpture was offered to MAGS and gratefully received to coincide with our commemoration of 25 years of girls at the school.
The sculpture was formally unveiled, as pictured above, by Head Prefect Khalen Quensell and Donald Ensor, the husband of Christine Hellyar. Khalen also spoke at the ceremony, expressing thanks for the arrival of the sculpture and promising that MAGS would be dutiful guardians of it.
