Penny Otto

Tahuna Torea is a recurring subject in the minds of many creative local Glendowie people including ecologists (professional and amateur), authors, town planers, poets and artists. It has been a fishing ground for Māori, a battlefield, a city rubbish dump, then rescued by the vision of Welsh author Ronald Lockley. He instigated the sandspit and its
immediate surroundings becoming a bird sanctuary. After all, Tahuna Torea means the gathering place of the oyster catcher.

Swamps and freshwater ponds enhance this lovely area. Fortunate soul that I am, I can see the Tamaki estuary with its famous sandspit from my art studio. I am privileged to be able to watch tides come and go.

I painted the portrait of Ronald Lockley (above) from memory to help commemorate the 10^th anniversary of the annual Art and Ecology prize of the Tamaki Estuary shown at the Michael Smith gallery in Howick.

Another ardent supporter is Chris Barfoot, real estate man cum poet. Here is the last verse of the poem which appeared in his recently published book “All Things Bright and Beautiful” which I find truly evocative.

 Let the gulf wind blow raw

On the northern beach shore;

May the tea tree always smell sweet,

And the scent of the bush at your feet;

Let the fantails’ bright flight

    Be their watchers’ delight;

     We are all friends here

    As the oystercatchers cry

    Torea! Torea!”

“Tahuna Torea” – acrylic on canvas