News
Colac Bay's iconic surfer statue is getting a makeover.
Southland artist Danny Owen has won the contract to replace the 25-year-old landmark with a new sculpture that will last 30 years. The community raised $100,000 through quizzes, raffles and merchandise sales, topped up with $42,000 from the Oraka Aparima Community Board.
Progress League committee member Lana Winders said the milestone reflected remarkable community effort.
"It's amazing how resourceful and capable the community is where we live. Once we started harnessing that, it was just incredible," she said.
"It's all been good old-fashioned fundraising. The first $42,000 was just quizzes, raffles and merchandise."
Mayor Rob Scott described Colac Bay as "the little town that could".
"This is the gold standard for a community grabbing the bull by the horns, getting off their backsides and getting it done," he said.
"Their passion, commitment and determination has resulted in an excellent outcome in an incredibly short amount of time. This is the epitome of what I love about Southland and its people. This is going to be a great result for an awesome little community and I can't wait to see this new landmark being enjoyed for the next generation or three."
Winders said motivation stemmed from wanting to "protect what's ours".
"Colac Bay suffered a few blows in the past 10 years – we've lost some things that the community truly identified with," she said.
"We lost the Foreshore Road that connected our surf spot Trees to the village. Then we lost a pub, then another one. And all of a sudden we were about to lose our statue – something we were just so proud of. We just couldn't let that happen."
The original statue had far exceeded its expected 10-year lifespan but faced an uncertain future until the community rallied. It was the only surfer statue in New Zealand.
"Surfing is one of the biggest assets of this area – we've got fantastic waves," Winders said.
"The surfer statue is a critical part of our identity. It's an asset that we were just not prepared to lose. When the statue was established surfing exploded in the Colac Bay and Riverton area. There's nothing better than being in the water."
She hoped their achievement would inspire others.
"Communities can harness their resources and talents and make things happen together. We are proud of what we have achieved as a community," she said.
"Sometimes you hear other communities complain and our message would be simply 'get off your butts and get into it'."
Owen, also known as DEOW, said the project was deeply personal.
"Colac Bay is a place that holds deep personal meaning for me," he said. "I have been surfing there for more than 30 years. It's a place of powerful memories, friendships and connection with the oceans – and where I first learned to surf.
"The culture of surfing at Colac Bay is unique within Southland. Generations of locals and visitors have learned to surf there, watched storms roll in across Foveaux Strait, and experienced the raw beauty of the coastline. This sculpture is intended to celebrate that identity."
The artist is known for his South Sea Spray street art initiative, which has transformed local communities with large-scale murals.
"Murals are powerful storytelling tools, but they also have natural lifespan. Paint fades, buildings change, and eventually the artwork disappears. Because of this, I have always had a desire to create a public artwork that will stand the test of time – something lasting, permanent and meaningful for the community," he said.
"The Colac Bay surfer sculpture is my vision for that lasting piece."
Owen will work with Zac Kean at Advanced Engineering in Invercargill for precision fabrication. The project is expected to take eight months to complete.