20-07-2025
Gareth Morgan's new giant public art park set to open in Spring
infrastructure arts 36 minutes ago
If you've travelled along Transmission Gully, north of Poneke Wellington - the major motorway section of State Highway One that opened in 2022 - you might have noticed through your side window giant objects starting to pop up on the western hills north of Pauatahanui These are on the property of well-known economist, businessman and philanthropist Gareth Morgan and his whanau. First came a rainbow-painted old New Zealand railway pedestrian bridge. Then, a dramatically scaled-up park bench - big enough for people to walk under - with cheekily a to scale version in front. Plus giant hilltop works by leading sculptors Phil Price and Neil Dawson. With eight sculptures already and six more to come, it's the beginnings of a sculpture trail that Morgan has revealed to RNZ is set to open to the public in Spring. You'll be able to walk, bike or golf buggy the almost five kilometre long trail, which sits alongside The Morgans nine-hole golf course, which the family purchased from Pauatahanui Golf Club in 2019 This significant private estate also features 60 hectares of what was pine forest and is now is being reestablished by the conservationist as native forest. Then there is the intimate live music venue, The Morgans Clubhouse, which has seen public performances by the likes of Vera Ellen, Hollie Smith, Anika Moa and the Phoenix Foundation. Gareth Morgan joined RNZ Culture 101's Mark Amery to play Fast Favourites.
