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The carved Ōrewa welcome sign on Hibiscus Coast Highway was destroyed after a vehicle left the road and struck it on the weekend of December 5.
Destination Ōrewa manager Hellen Wilkins says the impact must have been substantial.
“The sign was just about obliterated, which shows how big the hit was because it was very sturdy and heavy,” Wilkins says. “Our first concern is for the driver and any passengers involved, and we hope they are recovering as well as possible.”
The sign has been a familiar landmark since 2014, when inmates from the carving unit at Ngawha Prison in Northland designed and carved a set of three entrance signs from ancient Hokianga kauri. The other two are located on the Northern lookout and Grand Drive.
“There was a lot of thought and process in their design. They represent our community and the pride we have in this place.”
Wilkins says the project came out of a community survey run on Facebook at the time.
“Our community chose the icons they most associate with Ōrewa with the themes of sails, sea birds, pohutukawa, the hibiscus flower and the koru emerging as most favoured. Those elements were then carved within a sail shape,” she says.
Destination Ōrewa staff travelled to Ngawha to collect the completed carvings.
“We exchanged a koha of art supplies for the signs, had afternoon tea with the prisoners, took part in a blessing, and then drove the signs back to Ōrewa,” Wilkins says.
Auckland Council’s recreational services staff installed them, and master carver Lional Anderson has maintained and repaired the signs every two years since.
Wilkins says many people see the structures simply as entrance markers, but they carry a deeper story.
“They frequently appear on TV shows (most recently in two episodes of Location Location Location) and have a surprisingly large presence online,” she says.
Destination Ōrewa will assess options for replacement, with reference to the original concepts and design.
