Sculpture of Tangaroa - Gisborne New Zealand

A CULTURAL, adventure and eco-tourism venture proposed by sea captain, project manager and carver Te Aturangi Nepia-Clamp has caught the attention of Gisborne tourism leaders and operators. Mr Nepia-Clamp's plan is to set a sculpture of Tangaroa, Maori god of the ocean, on the sea-bed at a suitable location in Gisborne

Taken to the location on a traditonal, twin-hulled voyaging canoe, visitors would have the opportunity to dive down to the massive carving and have their photograph taken with it. Mr Nepia-Clamp, who is of Ngati Porou, Rongowhakaata, Kahungunu and English descent, first proposed the idea more than 10 years ago but nothing came of it. Before he left for Rarotonga in 2003, Mr Nepia-Clamp gave his sculpture to a friend who owned a shipping company in Auckland. Earlier this year, the shipping company owner told Mr Nepia-Clamp he planned to sell his house and would be happy for the carving of Tangaroa to come back to Gisborne.

Now the carving is home, Mr Nepia-Clamp is in discussion with Gisborne tourism leaders and operators about his concept and possible locations. Visitors would have the added bonus of being taught about the traditional role of Tanagroa and conservation of our ocean environment, he says. "We're talking about a targeted market and how we can go about developing it. "What I'm going to do this time round is ask for expressions of interest." Mr Nepia-Clamp's concept was inspired by a photograph a friend showed him of a sculpture on the sea-bed off South America. Tourists dived down to the sculpture to have their picture taken with it.This concept has also taken off in Rapanui, Easter Island, where locals have placed a moai, a gigantic human figure carved in stone, set on the seafloor has become the most popular dive venture in their waters, says Mr Nepia-Clamp. He sees a parallel in another venture in Aitutaki, the second most visited island of the Cook Islands where locals catch bonefish for the table. In other countries bonefish is a popular fly gamefish and is mostly caught for sport.

Filmed and Edited by
Ben Cowper

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