Kelly Hansen, of Christchurch, takes a photo of her boys Bowen (9, left) and Kieran Abraham (7) as they check out the last two of Pita Lagan's carved macrocarpas at Friendly Bay, Oamaru, yesterday.
Starting in 2013, the Friendly Bay Bridge Restoration Trust raised a total of $46,000 so what were once five "shabby trees'' could be transformed into public art, re-imagining the stumps as sculptures, at the popular park.
Former Waitaki mayor Alan McLay, who initiated the project, praised the initial vision of Picton artist Pita Lagan, who carved all five: his final two tree carvings feature a swordfish chasing a school of fish and humpback whales swimming with dolphins.
"When he [Mr Lagan] first came down, he looked across the whole playground as a big picture and he said ‘this is ... about kids'.''
When carving began on the fourth macrocarpa in November last year the trust had raised $7000 and managed to raise another $6000 for the fifth tree.
Mr McLay said he planned to install signs by the winter to recognise donors.
He also hoped some landscaping could be done around the trees to protect the sculptures.
