A new home has been found for Te Wero, a life-sized bronze sculpture modelled by the late Arnold Manaaki Wilson, and was made for ASB bank nearly five decades ago.
Located in Aotea Square from 1997 until 2008, it was removed as part of the redevelopment of the square and has been gifted to North Shore's Awataha Marae, where Mr Wilson was the founder, a teacher and respected elder up until his passing.
The sculpture by artist Lyndon Smith depicts the Māori warrior from the old New Zealand shilling coin, in a crouched position placed on a granite plinth.
Mr Wilson's son Anthony Wilson now runs Awataha Marae and he's greatly honoured that the Council has gifted the statue to the Marae, saying "Dad's come home".