25 August, 2025

Sculpture show returns with more places to perch

Have a seat… The sculpture by Merle Bishop that featured at Sculpture OnShore in 2023

NZ Sculpture OnShore’s return to Fort Takapuna in November will include a new “Take a Seat” trail, making a feature of installations people can rest up on.
The event, held two-yearly as the major fundraiser for Women’s Refuge, will have a record 20 schools exhibiting. Milford Primary, Belmont Intermediate and Westlake Girls High School are among them, as well as Devonport peninsula primary schools.
Programme highlights revealed this month, when tickets went on sale, confirm more than 120 sculptures will dot the seaside site at Narrow Neck.
Takapuna-based Merle Bishop is back exhibiting and included on the Take a Seat Trail. Her Come Sit With Me work featuring her dog Spot on a bench proved a popular attraction in 2023. This time Spot will welcome visitors with flowers cast in bronze.
Exhibition curator Sally Lush said: “These one-of-a-kind seats invite visitors to take a moment to sit, rest, and take in the breaktaking views.” The trail is expected to be a photographic drawcard. So too a number of giant sculptures by leading artists from across New Zealand.
A number of other North Shore artists feature, include renowned Devonport sculptor Helen Pollock, Debbie Barber from Hauraki and newcomer Brianna Parkinson from Bayswater.
Smaller and accessibly priced works will be available from the exhibition shop at the Officers’ Mess building and an extended outside display area.
Thousands of people are expected at the event, which runs from 8-23 November.
In 2023 it raised $350,000, and since its start in 1996 has raised more than $2.6 million.
Volunteers help with its operation and the organiser, the Friends of Women’s Trust, is keen to recruit more helpers.

• To volunteer or buy tickets, go to nzsculptureonshore.co.nz. Tickets are available for $25 until 8 October, rising to $30 thereafter. Family passes are available.

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