Moana the eel

There are attractive wetlands and stream views at the Corban Estate in Henderson (note shadow of blog photographer below...)

I've wanted to take a photo or two of Moana  the eel for quite some time. Yesterday, down there on the Estate during the 2010 NZ Federation of Historical Societies Conference, held at West Auckland, I got the opportunity in the morning, before the jam and scones were rolled out for the punters.

From the plaque (which, by the way for those who did the installation -- the plaque is VERY difficult to read if you're not down on one knee on the grass ...):

"Moana the eel sculpture was unveiled to the world on 28th November 2007. Her metal skeleton was first made by local artists Dave McCracken and Al Green some years ago. Project Twin Streams Opanuku Stream, the Pacifica Mamas, Waitakere Pacific Art and Cultural Trust and Waitakere City Council worked with artists Janet Holt, Bruce Courtney, Norbryn Eyre and young people from Henderson High School, Liston College, Mother of Divine Mercy and Beautiful Daughters to create Moana as she now stands.

"A corner stone from the original Henderson Town Hall and an old local piece of tramline have also been incorporated.

"May these wonderful creatures, born many miles away in the Pacific Ocean and ttravelling great distances to reach Aotearoa live in peace in our beautiful Opanuku Stream."

You can see the piece of tramline just to the right of the sculpture above. This was from a bus tramline, the kind which conveyed logs down from the timberlands in the Waitakeres. Together with the piece from the old local town hall (probably the block they used to put the plaque against, see below to the right of Moana) -- this installation is a nice marriage of heritage with the environment.

The inscription made out in ceramic letters: "Look after our streams, and they'll look after you."