Kāpiti Coast · Aotearoa New Zealand
Whale Song
A Destination for Kāpiti. A Legacy for New Zealand.
Whale Song is becoming one of New Zealand's most important public cultural and tourism projects.
Whale Song will become the centrepiece of a new central park and wetland destination adjacent to the refreshed Paraparaumu Town Centre, creating a unique cultural, environmental and visitor experience for Kāpiti.
▶ Watch the Fly-Through VideoTake Home the Story
Learn why Whale Song matters: read the legend of the seven whales and the Kāpiti whaling history that helped shape the project.
Moving from Vision to Reality
How close are we?
Backed by nine years of development, consultation, engineering, storytelling and cultural partnership, Whale Song is moving from vision to reality.
✓ Story Development✓ Community Consultation✓ Cultural Partnerships✓ Engineering Concepts✓ Site Planning
✓ Major Sponsorship◐ Stage One Funding◐ Construction Readiness□ Installation□ Opening Day
About Whale Song
A destination designed to inspire.
Seven life-sized bronze humpback whales will create one of the largest public sculpture installations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Art, culture, environment, education, tourism, technology and community pride come together in one unforgettable experience.
No ratepayer funds will be used for this project. Whale Song is being funded through sponsorship, philanthropy, fundraising, donations and professional support provided in kind.
Why Whale Song matters
One project. Many outcomes.
Art
A monumental public sculpture by Mike Fuller.
Culture
Iwi partnered with Puketapu ki Paraparaumu Hapū.
Environment
Connecting streams, wetlands, oceans and whales.
Education
Books, activity sheets, history and future digital learning.
Tourism
A new reason to stop, stay and explore Kāpiti.
Technology
App, AR, VR, AI and wayfinding experiences.
The Wayfinder Effect
Whale Song is the beginning of the journey.
Whale Song will attract visitors, then help them discover food and beverage, accommodation, retail, nature, arts, culture, services and regional experiences.
Visitors discover Whale Song.
Wayfinding signs and app guide them outward.
Local businesses benefit from visitor time and spend.
Kāpiti becomes part of the visitor’s story.
Stories of the Sea
Books that carry the story and help fund the vision.
Printed copies are available for a $20 donation per book. They are part of the story, part of the education and part of the fundraising pathway.
The Legend of the Seven Whales of Whale Song
Discover the family pod story and the deeper meaning behind Whale Song.
Read OnlineKāpiti: Blood, Oil and Bone
Explore Kāpiti whaling history, transformation and conservation.
Read OnlineCoastlands Lotto
Coastlands Shoppingtown, Paraparaumu.
LoveStomp Florist
Paraparaumu Beach.
Liquor Lords
Paraparaumu.
Printed Books
You can receive a gifted copy of either The Legend of the Seven Whales of Whale Song or Kāpiti: Blood, Oil and Bone by supporting Whale Song.
For a printed book collected locally: make a $20 donation at Coastlands Lotto, LoveStomp Florist at Paraparaumu Beach or Liquor Lords, corner Ihakara Street, Paraparaumu, and receive a gifted copy of your chosen book.
For a printed book posted to you: make a $30 donation to the Whale Song account to cover postage and packaging, then email us your postal address, chosen book and donation date.
Support the Journey
Help create something future generations will inherit.
Whale Song is moving from vision to reality. We now need the support of visionary individuals, families, businesses, philanthropists and organisations to complete the journey.
Flyover Video
Experience Whale Song from above.
See the scale, setting and vision of Whale Song through the project flyover.
Ready to see how Whale Song benefits the wider region?
Explore the Impact Explorer →
Explore the Project
Follow the Whale Song journey.
Whale Song is a story, a buildable public artwork, a visitor destination and an economic catalyst. Explore the pages below to understand the full opportunity.
Whale Song Impact ExplorerAdjust visitor assumptions and see how spend, jobs and wider regional benefits can flow through local sectors.
Building Whale SongUnderstand the engineering, foundations, foundry delivery and installation pathway.
Why Seven Whales?Explore the artistic, cultural and symbolic reason for the seven-whale composition.
Books & ResourcesLearn about the two Whale Song books and how supporters can receive gifted copies.
Latest UpdatesSee current Facebook updates and key project milestones.
Our Support Network
Partnered and Supported By
Lead Partner
Proudly Supported By
Whale Song is a community-led project. We thank all our partners and supporters who are helping shape a legacy for future generations.