In Taupō, a North Island town overlooking the shores of the lake of the same name in New Zealand, a huge sculpture of a nearly 10-meter-tall dinosaur sitting on a large geometric rock has become the town’s most talked-about attraction in just a few days.
The work by Slovenian-born artist Gregor Kregar, nicknamed Boom Boom, is the first installation of a new sculpture park sponsored by the Taupō Sculpture Trust. Inaugurated last Friday, however, the sculpture immediately sparked a heated debate among residents, particularly over the financial support it received from the district council. Indeed, the Taupō District Council provided an extraordinary grant of $100,000 for the project, just as citizens are facing a municipal tax increase of more than 8 percent. A coincidence that has generated quite a bit of criticism. The work is the result of a long-standing collaboration between artists and economic actors in the area, but the economic context amplified reactions. Taupō Mayor David Trevis has publicly defended the initiative. Interviewed by radio station Morning Report, he said he was not surprised by the controversy.
“Public works always generate some discussion in every community,” he said. According to Trevis, the idea of giving more visibility to local art goes back a long way. “About 15 years ago, a group of artists and entrepreneurs proposed that we bring some color to the city. They would be in charge of raising half the funds, and we were asked to cover the rest. It seemed like a reasonable idea to us.” The mayor went on to stress the importance of community partnerships and the goal of making Taupō a more culturally attractive place as well. “We are always ready to support sporting events like supercars or the Ironman. But the arts community, to be honest, has received much less over the years. This is an opportunity to show them our support as well,” he continued on the radio. For his part, a few days ago, Kregar shared some pictures of the monumental installation on Instagram, accompanying them with a few words recounting the long wait and deep commitment behind the “Boom Boom installed in Taupō” project . It took 6 years to make it. 7x3x3 m, stainless steel and Corten steel."
In the past, two councilors have spoken out against funding the work, Anna Park and Sandra Greenslade, arguing that in the country’s economic climate, those funds could have been put to more useful use. Councilwoman Park also recalled that the original decision was made “before a global pandemic and before the soaring cost of living,” adding that “just because the budget calls for that expenditure, it doesn’t mean we necessarily have to do it.”
In 2024, Greenslade qualified art teacher, said he could not support using $100,000 for a sculpture, despite the commitment being made before he joined the council “I have a hard time opposing it ... but times have changed and I’m afraid our community won’t thank us for it. I would like to see that $100,000 invested in something a little more appropriate for our district.” Christine Robb, vice president of the Taupō Sculpture Trust, spoke at the meeting, calling Boom Boom a “huge value-add for the city.”
Despite controversy related to the fiscal environment, the initiative still attracted public interest. “A member of my family just told me they are coming up this weekend to see the sculpture,” Mayor Trevis continued. The project thus seems to have achieved at least part of its goal of attracting visitors and stimulating curiosity around a new cultural hub. Asked whether the work is, from his point of view, aesthetically sound, the mayor responded cautiously. “Actually, I’m starting to like it. It is very well made. It’s by the same artist who signed the sculpture you see every night on TG1,” he said, referring to the New Zealand public television news program. The choice of subject, a dinosaur, is not accidental. According to the statement, the Taupō area was once inhabited by these prehistoric animals.
The reference to the rock on which the dinosaur sits, on the other hand, recalls the local geology and in particular the volcanic activity in the region, which is known for its rock formations and geothermal springs. “Dinosaurs inhabited these lands, particularly along the Mohawk River and on Naked Topol Road. And we are known for our ’hot stuff,’ so the volcanic rock idea made sense,” Mayor Trevis explained. On the method of selecting the works, the first citizen wanted to clarify that the decisions are not up to city councilors. “It will never be the councilors who choose the artworks. This task should be left to the artists and experts in the field. There will never be unanimity of views, but what matters is having generated attention and activity around the project. And that is exactly what this sculpture is doing.”
The Boom Boom sculpture thus represents a case in point of how public art can elicit mixed opinions, especially when it is publicly funded in times of economic hardship. On the one hand, there are those who see it as a cultural and tourism investment that can enhance the city in the long run. On the other, there are those who question the decision to allocate municipal resources to art initiatives while raising local taxes. The project is part of a larger urban enhancement plan promoted by the Taupō Sculpture Trust, a body that has been working with local institutions for years to bring art into public spaces. The hope of the promoters is to transform Taupō into a recognizable destination for its artistic identity by placing contemporary art alongside the natural and urban landscape. Meanwhile, the debate continues. The harshest criticism points to a lack of transparency in funding criteria and the appropriateness of allocating funds to areas considered more urgent. However, the mayor reiterates that the agreement with the Taupō Sculpture Trust was made five years ago, well before the current economic crisis, and that it was simply honoring a commitment already made.
 |
| Boom Boom, $100,000 dinosaur divides New Zealand: art or waste? |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
