A sculpture commemorating the devastation of January 2023 storms on the Muriwai community has been installed on the intersection between Motutara Road and Waitea Road. Photo: Supplied / Abe Dew
A sculpture made from pieces of the cyclone and flood-wrecked homes in Muriwai on Auckland's west coast has been unveiled.
Seven unique columns designed by sculptor Jeff Thomson, whose work included the Taihape Boot and the Auckland Zoo Elephant, could be viewed in Muriwai's town centre from Sunday.
Long-time Muriwai resident and organiser Abe Dew said hundreds of local volunteers and several local artists helped with the project over the past two years; creating mosaics and trawling for materials.
"It's a quilt of materials that have been salvaged from houses that have been demolished."
"Galvanised iron, tap fittings, sinks, tiles, bits of corrugated roofing, and letter boxes, have all been formed into colourful mosaic blocks.
"Jeff Thomson has been incredibly generous and it's wonderful for an artist of his stature to have created something so meaningful for our little village."
In Muriwai, 68 properties including Dew's were deemed unliveable after Cyclone Gabrielle and flooding in 2023. Two volunteer firefighters - Craig Stevens and Dave van Zwanenberg - were also killed by a slip.
Dew said the artwork was a permanent acknowledgement of the devastation the storms caused.
He said it had been emotional for people to recognise parts of their former homes in the sculpture.
"We've heard stories of people welling up when they see it because it means an awful lot to this community.
"It talks about climate change and what happens to people when big events like this happen."
Photo: Supplied / Abe Dew
The sculpture also included messages from people who lost their homes and had to move away from the community.
Muriwai resident Joss Hong from the Muriwai Artists Collective said the process of working on the sculpture had been rehabilitative for many in the community.
Hong ran free mosaic making workshops at the Muriwai Surf Club, where storm-affected residents took shelter back in 2023.
"Being together at the surf club was quite a cathartic experience.
"The conversations at those workshops were at times really emotional and helped people through the grieving process.
"It's [the sculpture] really is a reflection of Muriwai's spirit and resilience."
Hong hoped the sculpture would also be a celebration of the happy memories of the community that once was.
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