Endangered Species
Synopsos
An Artist/blacksmith is commissioned to forge a sculpture of an endangered native bird.
South Canterbury’s Noel Gregg is one of the last of a breed who work metal in a way that has changed little in a thousand or two years.
Directors Statement
There is new money rolling around the hills of South Canterbury,-and the Twizel Promotions Council knows how to spend it.
Nearing retirement, Artist/Blacksmith Noel Gregg is commissioned to build two 3 metre Black Stilts, or Kaki, the world’s most endangered wading bird.
These are to take pride of place in the soon to be remodelled Twizel Town Centre.
Nothing new perhaps –it’s the sort of pursuit promotion councils all around the land are out doing eachother with. Oakune has the Carrot, Rakaia the Salmon, Cromwell the Apple, Gore the Trout… But with Noel Gregg this promises to be a singular sort of work.
Noel is one of the last of a breed; someone from the old school of blacksmiths who work metal with tools that have changed little in a thousand or two years.
Known as being a maker of wonderful metal objects, his iron gates are much sought after. Ralph Hotere has a set, so does Ian Athfield, Philip Trustum, and Sir Miles Warren.
At 65 years old, and fending off retirement, Noel Gregg has been smithing since completing an apprenticeship in his teens. His mentor was a rural blacksmith who at the time was in his 70s. The skills imparted were from the old ways and now after 50 years of attending his forge, Noel is internationally respected for his knowledge and abilities.
Locally has collaborated with sculpture’s Sam Mahon, to build Dunedin Airport’s ‘Southern Man’ and Bing Dawe for Christchurch Art’s Centres ‘Fabulous Races’
Noel was a long time resident in Christchurch. It was only a few years ago that he finally got sick of the noise and crowds.
‘It was when an eyesore of a building went up over the road that I decided Twizel, where my holiday home was, should be my home.’ Three years ago he built a new forge there.
The sculptures will bring a new profile to a bird that the Department of Conversation has been increasingly successfully breeding. Five years ago the numbers of adult birds were down to 31. Today DOC has bred and released into predator cleared wetlands over 100 birds. The chicks are raised in a hatchery on the outskirts of Twizel and the locals have taken to heart the Kaki’s well being.
The size of this commission and the physicality of his job, means that Noel is facing a significant challenge building the Kaki. Perhaps it will be his swan song.