Humpback whales could soon appear in the Waitaki district.
The Waitaki District Council is to consider whether it will help to buy one of Oamaru Stone Symposium people's choice winner Silivenusi Funaki's realistic sculptures of whales, for display in the district.
The Oamaru sculptor's whales edged out second-placed Christchurch-based sculptor Paul Deans' larger-than-life relief of a girl's face in voting for the 2015 Malcolm Murduck People's Choice Award at this year's Symposium, which finished on Sunday.
Symposium chairman Matt King said $900 worth of donation ''votes'' were cast in this year's ballot and Mr Funaki won the people's choice by just $1.30.
Mr Funaki, who carved two whale sculptures, one priced at $3500 and the other at $7000, received $281.40 while Mr Deans received $280.10 in donations over the course of the three-week symposium.
In 2013, the council bought people's choice winner Allen Harnett's sculpture of two little blue penguins, which is now installed at the Oamaru Public Library.
Mr King said he had approached Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher about the council helping to secure a sculpture from this year's symposium for display in the district.
''We haven't had a `full and final' but he didn't say no either.''
Mr Kircher said he was yet to speak to council staff about it, but assistance was a possibility.
''There are some existing budgets it could potentially come out of, but first and foremost is: 'Is this a piece we would like to own on behalf of [the district].''
''I'd be quite happy to look at that and how we could use it - it doesn't have to be Oamaru, with the whales, it could be ... Moeraki or Hampden ... and the big question is, how do we pay for the balance of it?''
Mr King said income from five sales at the symposium might also be available to help fund the purchase of one of Mr Silivenusi's pieces - the symposium takes a 20% commission on its sales.
Donations were also still being accepted.
Mr Kircher said the symposium was an important asset for the town and interest in it was high this year.
