New table, talk of the town

A colourful new public art installation is gracing Mangawhai Heads, in the form of a designer picnic table overlooking the surf beach.
The Brick Table, which was installed on the reserve near the beach car park late last week, is a creation by Auckland artists Sara Hughes and Gregor Kregar.

It’s the third of a trio of Connection Tables, commissioned by Heinz Wattie’s as part of a campaign to encourage Kiwis to connect over a meal. The other two, each distinct and unique, were unveiled earlier in Napier and Nelson.

The multi-hued glazed brick table is positioned to take in the view across the dunes to the ocean. L-shaped seats for couples or groups wrap around the table, single seats allow for individuals, and the spaces between are designed to enable wheelchair access.

“This table echoes our family ethos of coming together around our dining table,” Sara and Gregor say. “Since our boys were young we have always sat together to eat dinner, it’s a routine that gives us time to talk and share the day’s highs and lows. It’s part of the rhythm of our life, coming together around our table gives us daily pause and allows us to connect as a whānau.”

“We have chosen to build our table from brick, the building block of our home and the bright glaze represents the vitality we feel around our table,” they say. “We want to offer people the same experience to enjoy food, conversation and time with their family and friends.”

“We wanted to create the tables as an ever-lasting and memorable way for Kiwi families to come together and share time,” Wattie’s managing director Neil Heffer says.

Research conducted in June found that eight out of 10 NZ households cite barriers to eating together, including scheduling differences in the household. Twenty-five per cent of New Zealanders only eat together at the table once a week, or not at all.

“Yet connection is a vital part of overall wellbeing and is often put aside due to busy schedules and distractions such as electronic devices,” Heffer says. “Hopefully, our table can help overcome that by becoming a focal point for people where they can come together.

“The tables have already been a great success in Hawke’s Bay and Nelson, and we can’t wait for more Kiwis to enjoy them over the summer at all three locations.”