Frequently Asked Questions
Q1
Who is funding Whale Song?
Whale Song is being funded privately by individual and corporate donations.
Q2
Are ratepayers paying for Whale Song?
Ratepayers are not being asked to fund Whale Song, however, Individual private donations are welcome.
Q3
Why is Whale Song not located at the beach?
There was a proposal for a location at Paraparaumu Beach about a decade ago. This was met with a huge public outcry, most concerned about the impact on the view.
The scale of the sculptures would take up the whole of McLean Park including what is now an amazing place for kids and adults alike, the busy skate park and a buzzing Paraparaumu beach.
Q4
Is Whale Song on public land?
Whale Song proposed location is a component of a large 8ha wetland restoration and Wharemauku Stream realignment, starting with land gifted to the Whale Song Charitable Trust by Ngahina Developments. The current location has been a combination of planning by landowners The Wellington Company and Ngahina Developments, working closely with Kapiti Coast District Council.
Q5
How much does it cost to visit Whale Song?
Whale Song is a gift, a legacy for the Kapiti Coast and New Zealand and will be free to visit. There may well be small charges for utilising mobile technology linking to the sculpture, bringing to life the stories and song of the whales.
Q6
Why seven whales?
Compositionally, it is easier and more visually satisfying to compose elements of odd numbers in a work of art.
In Maori mythology there is the an ancient legend of the Seven Whales Ngai Tahu Matawhaiti, hapu of Ngati Kahungunu, explaining how some hills east of Wairoa came to be. The legend tells how the Seven Whales disobeyed the mighty Tohunga, the master of the seven giant whales and were cursed and turned into hills.
The number seven is significant in the Bible. In the Jewish faith the Hanukkah Menorah, or seven golden lamp stands represent the seven churches of Asia.
There is seven days in a week, seven colours in a rainbow, seven continents, seven wonders of the ancient world and seven deadly sins; not forgetting the seven dwarfs, seven heavens and the number seven is considered to be a lucky number.
Q7
What impact will Whale Song have?
Whale Song, as an iconic attraction, is expected to activate all of the ecosystems around it, attracting both domestic and international tourists to Kāpiti. Key is Whale Songs wayfinding to other attractions, retail, food and beverage, accommodation, parks, galleries and museums. Increasing visitors to Kāpiti (estimated between 150,000 – 500,000 new visitors annually), increased local spend and time spent here, boosted resilience for businesses and job growth in the many 100’s.