The 11m by 7m stainless steel waka designed by Russell Beck for Owaka will honour the shared history of both Maori and Pakeha in the Catlins town of about 300, the Invercargill sculptor says.
The former Southland Museum and Art Gallery director said the stylised, life-sized canoe - which will be a centrepiece for the town's 150th celebrations in January - was intended to reinforce the town's history and honour the area's first inhabitants who were ''seafaring people''.
''The Southern people were really in their canoes all the time - they were a very mobile people and they had been frequenting that coastline since the early 14th century, or maybe even earlier,'' he said.
''I see it as a fitting tribute to those early Maori mariners. But Owaka was also a place where Europeans built boats, because you had this huge resource of timber behind you.''
The waka would be installed ''mid-November'' in time for the January festivities, Owaka Going Forward chairwoman Aileen Clarke said.
The group wanted something tangible to represent ''an identity for the town''.
The Waikoau South Otago Runanga and the Hokonui Runanga had approved the design of the waka and the Clutha District Council approved the site, in front of the Owaka Museum, last year.
The group had raised $60,500 so far and Mrs Clarke was confident it could raise the total of $90,000 required for the sculpture, its installation, lighting and the landscaping around it.
Mr Beck (74) said the location of the sculpture would create a ''focus'' for the town centre.
''I think it will hold its own. If you've got nice graceful lines and curves, it tends to attract good comments ... a canoe is quite a graceful piece.''
Mr Beck, who designed the waka free of charge, is now working with engineer Kevin Mair, of Invercargill, to finalise the design.
It will be transported to the area and assembled on site.
The waka will stand about 2m off the ground, floodlighting will illuminate it at night and native grasses will be planted underneath.
• Donations towards the waka can be direct-credited into bank account no 03 1734 0015484 001 (Catlins Promotions). State the donation is for the waka.
