The Paererewā Curatorial Board is a charitable trust established with the backing of Hideaki Fukutake (STILL) and Derek Handley (Aera Foundation). It is a nationwide initiative with a simple but profound premise: to create seats, benches and thresholds that mark stories, places and people across Aotearoa, each built to last 1,000 years, scattered from urban waterfronts to remote backcountry. The project brings together leading designers, makers, artists and tangata whenua to create enduring places of reflection; thresholds between the everyday and something deeper. Hideaki's family are the visionary force behind the celebrated Benesse Art Site Naoshima (the art islands of Japan) and that philosophy of place-based impact carries directly into Paererewā. To learn more about the project and its kaupapa, visit paererewa.org.nz/about. 

From left: Kīngi Makoare (Ngati Whatua Orakei), Brando Posocco, Derek Handley, Helen Klisser, Heather Harris, Sam Johnston, Kelvin Soh. Pae located in Queenstown's Jardine Park beside Lake Whakatipu.

Two Pae have been constructed so far, with a further eight planned for delivery over the next year across Aotearoa. The first is here on Waiheke, made by our own Anton Forde. Sculptor, islander, and one of Aotearoa's most compelling artistic voices. Forde's practice is rooted in themes of connection to land, nature and indigenous culture, and there are few artists better placed to give physical form to an idea about sitting still and thinking across centuries. Anton is also one of the selected artists for Sculpture on the Gulf 2027.

The Pae is located just off Te Ara Hura on the Poderi Crisci – Passage Rock walk, above Poderi Crisci on the property of Robin and Bill Kermode who partnered with Anton and Paererewā in its creation.  Walk up the (slightly steep) hill then take some time to sit, reflect, and enjoy the view. Waiheke's place in this project feels especially meaningful as we look forward to hosting Sculpture on the Gulf in March 2027, a reminder of just how central sculpture and the landscape are to life on this island.

The second Pae is located just off Te Ara Hura on the Poderi Crisci, Waiheke Island

The second Pae was just launched in Queenstown's Jardine Park beside Lake Whakatipu, a carved boulder designed by British architectural studio Nebbia, made possible through the generosity of the Edgar family. The British Council, whose New Zealand and the Pacific Director Natasha Beckman sits on the Waiheke Art Gallery and Sculpture on the Gulf boards, supported Nebbia's involvement in Paererewā through initial design funding, and introducing Nebbia to STILL - a deliberate gesture of creative friendship and connection with Aotearoa.  

Brando Posocco from Nebbia with British Council New Zealand and the Pacific Director Natasha Beckman.

The project's curatorial integrity is overseen by an independent board chaired by Heather Harris, former Director of Collections at the V&A Museum in London, who also serves on the Waiheke Art Gallery and Sculpture on the Gulf boards, bringing those connections full circle. Each Pae is also paired with a place-based philanthropic model, ensuring the work is cared for in perpetuity by local volunteers.

That Waiheke is part of this from the beginning, and that one of our own helped shape it, feels worth pausing on.

To find out more or to become involved with Paererewā, please visit 

www.paererewa.org.nz 

Sign up to Sculpture on the Gulf for early bird tickets.  
https://sotg.nz/  

With special thanks to the Paererewā Curatorial Board and the following partners.