Scaling up: Rakaia’s Salmon statue needs a makeover
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The iconic Rakaia Salmon needs a facelift - and cash to fund it.
Ashburton District Council’s open spaces manager Ian Soper said a structural and maintenance assessment showed the 12m high statue needs a lot of work.
The good news is the work can be done on-site, he said.
“The work can be done in situ so it won’t need to be cut down and transported.”
It will need scaffolding erected and plastic wrapped to contain the fibreglass work, he said.
The upgrade is unbudgeted work and once quotes have been obtained a report will come to the council “to see where that sits financially”.
The statue, built in 1991 with funding from the Rakaia Lions Club, was gifted to the council about 18 years ago.
The area around the salmon was redeveloped between 2020 and 2021.
The project received a $739,945 grant from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, $20,000 from the Rakaia Lions, and the council funded the remaining $198,000.
The bulk of the project budget was spent on a new public toilet facility.
The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand
Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!
Each correct answer will get you one entry into the draw to WIN 1 of 5 Ooni Karu 2 Portable Pizza Oven bundles, valued at $1024! Each bundle includes: an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Portable Pizza Oven, Ooni Karu 2 Carry Cover, Ooni 12" Perforated Peel, Ooni Digital Infrared Thermometer and an Ooni Cookbook: Cooking with Ooni. The more answers you enter correctly, the higher your chance of winning. For more information and to submit your answers, click here
The Team at Stuff
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
-
10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
-
19.8% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
-
69.8% Nah - not for me
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
Loading…
