Ōtautahi / Christchurch Daily Photo

The Pīngao sculpture by Kulimoe’anga Stone Maka is a striking public art piece featured in the 2024 SCAPE Public Art Season. This sculpture, inspired by the seed pod of the native pīngao plant, symbolises resilience and the cultural heritage of Aotearoa. Made from polyurethane, plywood, and fiberglass, it is both a reflection of the natural world and a metaphor for socio-cultural and environmental challenges, including climate change.

Stone Maka, a South New Brighton resident and renowned artist, created this work to highlight the local history and ecological significance of pīngao, which once thrived on New Brighton beach but was nearly lost due to human activity. Today, restoration efforts aim to reintroduce this vital dune-stabilizing plant to Christchurch’s coastal landscapes.

For more on this fascinating piece and the SCAPE Public Art Season, visit SCAPE Public Art.