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Benn Bathgate / Stuff
More than three years after its original installation date, Hemo’s throat sculpture, Te Ahi Tupau, is finally in place.
Rotorua’s Hemo Gorge sculpture, the largest 3D printed sculpture in the world, has finally been placed by helicopter more than three years after its original installation date.
The sculpture, Te Ahi Tupua, was put in place on Saturday morning by two helicopter rides and a construction crane.
The idea for a sculpture in the renovated Hemo Gorge Rotunda was initially raised by the Rotorua Lakes Council in 2015, with a conceptual design from the Māori Institute of Arts and Crafts in Te Puia / New Zealand.
The sculpture, which originally cost $ 500,000, had been plagued by delays and design issues.
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The original plan to use stainless steel had to be abandoned for fear of weight and the project was delayed until December 2017, when Kilwell submitted a plan to realize the design using 3D printing.
Benn Bathgate / Stuff
The top of the Hamo Gorge sculpture was placed by helicopter on Saturday morning.
Its final cost was $ 743,029, paid for by the Rotorua Lakes Council, the NZTA, and other local sponsors.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said it had been a long wait to see the sculpture in place, “and it’s good to see it now ready.”
“It has been an incredibly complex and pioneering project that has required a lot of innovation,” he said.
“There have been challenges for both its construction and its installation, but that’s because it is something that has never been done before.
“I think it will be a great entry piece that tells an important story of Te Arawa and Rotorua, and I hope it becomes part of the local landscape and welcomes our manuhiri.”
The giant sculpture was divided into two pieces, each of which was taken by helicopter to the Te Puia car park, before being placed in place with a crane.
Benn Bathgate / Stuff
After being transported by helicopter, the final piece of the sculpture was lifted into place with a crane.
The sculpture was inspired by the story of Te Arawa tohunga Ngātoroirangi, who was responsible for the safe passage of people to New Zealand and illustrates the origins of geothermal energy.
Kilwell Fibretube CEO Craig Wilson said the 3D printing process took nearly 16,500 hours and that he believed the finished sculpture would be the largest in the world to have been 3D printed.
