Shaney Warena designed ‘Tuwiri’ when he was just 15 years old, his design went on to make him the Turangi winner of the Taupo Sculpture Trust Schools’ competition for 2013.
The design of the sculpture, a traditional maori drill with a taniwha design at the base, is in honour of the Turangi people that helped build the dam. The solid wood work was carved by Mark Te Kahu, and stands on a plinth made of stones from the Tongariro River. It was unveiled and blessed in the Turangi Town Centre at dawn on 11th June 2015.