The huge bird statue was stealthily installed high up on Moa Point by Canadian guerrilla artist Lindsey Manning nearly six years ago. Photo: Supplied
Residents near the coastal community of Wellington's Moa Point say they will work to repair a mysterious Moa statue that has fallen from its perch high on a rocky outcrop just beyond the city's airport.
The more than two-metre tall bird was stealthily installed by Canadian guerrilla artist Lindsey Manning as a farewell gift to the area nearly six years ago.
Lindsey Manning (pictured) says she's thrilled the community has taken her guerrilla art work to their hearts. Photo: Supplied
But some time ahead of new year the Moa - dubbed 'Cliff' - disappeared from view.
Andrea Cootes has lived in Moa Point for the past 35 years.
She said it was always a pleasure to look up and see the bird's silhouette staring out from the coast
But she said the strong winds that battered the coastal suburb occasionally got the better of the plywood structure.
"It's a lovely piece of artwork to view but when its not there you know it's been extremely strong, that it's once again come down," Cootes said.
'I don't know how they found that spot'
A former Moa point resident - who did not want to be named - said he took it upon himself to repair the Moa when it blew over in 2021.
He said he planned to head back up the hill to re-erect the statue as soon as conditions allowed but the bird's remote location made it a real challenge to fix.
"I tried several missions to get there and eventually I did. I tied a couple of ropes up there. It's a tiny little rock outcrop. How the original people that put it up there? I don't know how they found that spot," he said.
Art is a 'community touch-point'
Devon Diggle regularly cycled the coast road and said he always enjoyed the moment when the creature came into view.
Cliff the Moa stares out from his perch on the hillside above Moa Point. Photo: Supplied
"It was quirky, fun and it was clever. Because you wouId look up and suddenly it would be there silhouetted against the sky.
"I started to wonder whether I was going to have to duck because a Haast eagle would come by next. The Moa was quite real the way it sat up there so you always did a double take until you then realise you were actually at Moa point and maybe that was the point," Diggle said.
Diggle said that when the statue disappeared from sight, it made him wonder if the people responsible for erecting it realised how much locals enjoyed its' presence.
"There's something about art and sometimes there's something about guerilla art that can bring a community together and create those moments of contact that connect our community. I think that those are important things and for that I'm grateful. They're community touch-points," Diggle said.
'Lets go to Bunnings and get you some ply'
RNZ tracked down the artist responsible for Cliff - Lindsey Manning - now living in Calgary, Canada.
Manning said she built the statue with a friend in the week before she left New Zealand - after three years in the country on a visitors visa.
"I remember looking up and thinking 'why does Moa point not have a Moa? I should make a Moa'. I phoned my best mate and his response was 'lets go to Bunnings and get you some ply'.
"We went out to the cliffs and got pretty torn up by gorse in the process. We hauled up this eight foot Moa. I think that both of us nearly fell off the cliff more than once," Manning said.
Cliff the Moa stares out from his perch on the hillside above Moa Point. Photo: Supplied
Manning said Cliff remained one of her favourite pieces and she was thrilled the community had taken him to heart.
"It's blown me away that there's people that have rallied around Cliff. This is incredible.
"To use my spark of madness to pass on a moment of joy - even if its brief - to another human. So I hope the Moa has been a joy for the majority of people and long live Cliff," Manning said.
Wellington Airport - which owned the land Cliff once stood proudly upon - declined to comment on the Moa's presence or disappearance from the hillside near their runway.
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