The paua shell sculpture in Riverton has been damaged and will have to be fixed.
In a report to the Oraka Aparima Community Board yesterday, Southland District Council staff advised the paua shell had "suffered an unfortunate injury".
"For unforeseen reasons the sub-surface on the paua cracked and water was able to leak through, causing the paper to lift," the report said.
The cracks would need to be repaired before sealing and finishing coats were applied on-site.
Council staff were working with contractors to finalise a suitable repair process and timeline.
It was created in the early 1990s by Fiordland Souvenirs for advertising purposes but it soon became the town’s unofficial icon.
In 2021 its future became uncertain when the owner of the land where the structure stood decided to sell the land.
It moved to its new home at Koi Koi Park — near the town’s skatepark — last year, though that was contentious for some in the Riverton community. — APL
