The lake was called Virginia Lake for many years but in 2016 the Whanganui District Council voted to rename it Rotokawau Virginia Lake.[1] Rotokawau is the Māori name for the lake of the black shag.[1]
There are a number of attractions at the lake and surrounding reserve: the Higginbottom Fountain, winter garden in an Art Deco conservatory and a statue of Tainui.[2] Tainui was the daughter of a local chief, and the statue was sculpted by local sculptor Joan Morrell. In 2022 it was moved within the reserve to a site closer to the lake.[3][4]
A waka maumahara (memorial canoe) built of Corten steel and decorated by artist Cecelia Kumeroa was unveiled in 2020.[5] It replaced an older canoe which was erected in memory of Pura McGregor, a Whanganui community leader and first Māori woman recipient of an MBE.[5]
A statue of children's story character Peter Pan is also located close to the lake. Sculpted by Cecil Thomas and unveiled in 1967, it is a variant of the sculptor's 1965 sculpture in Dunedin Botanic Gardens.
Referencesedit
^ abWilson, Zaryd (10 March 2016). "'Rotokawau' now part of lake's name". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
^"Rotokawau Virginia Lake". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
^Stowell, Laurell (7 March 2022). "Relocated statue a symbol love and tragedy". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
^Coxon, Terry (7 December 2021). "New home beside the lake for weeping Tainui". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
^ abStowell, Laurel (21 August 2020). "Date set for opening of memorial to Pura McGregor". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
Further readingedit
"Virginia Lake". Wanganui Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2539, 20 July 1875, p. 2
"Virginia Lake: unveiling the statue of Tainui." Historical record (Wanganui, N.Z.), Nov 1978; v.9 n.2: p.3-6
"The story of Roto Kawau" Mana tangata, Dec 1992/Jan 1993; n.14: p.27
"Virginia Waters" Historical record (Wanganui, N.Z.), May 1970; v.1 n.1: p.48-51
"Wanganui's Virginia Lake" New Zealand historic places, Sep 1995; n.55: p.14-16
This Manawatū-Whanganui geography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
rotokawau, virginia, lake, lake, city, whanganui, north, island, zealand, situated, suburb, johns, hill, north, city, higginbottom, fountain, virginia, lakelocationnorth, islandcoordinates39, 9141, 0291, 9141, 0291basin, countriesnew, zealandsettlementswhangan. Rotokawau Virginia Lake is a lake in the city of Whanganui in the North Island of New Zealand It is situated in the suburb of St Johns Hill in the north of the city Rotokawau Virginia LakeHigginbottom Fountain at Virginia LakeRotokawau Virginia LakeLocationNorth IslandCoordinates39 54 51 S 175 01 45 E 39 9141 S 175 0291 E 39 9141 175 0291Basin countriesNew ZealandSettlementsWhanganuiThe lake was called Virginia Lake for many years but in 2016 the Whanganui District Council voted to rename it Rotokawau Virginia Lake 1 Rotokawau is the Maori name for the lake of the black shag 1 There are a number of attractions at the lake and surrounding reserve the Higginbottom Fountain winter garden in an Art Deco conservatory and a statue of Tainui 2 Tainui was the daughter of a local chief and the statue was sculpted by local sculptor Joan Morrell In 2022 it was moved within the reserve to a site closer to the lake 3 4 A waka maumahara memorial canoe built of Corten steel and decorated by artist Cecelia Kumeroa was unveiled in 2020 5 It replaced an older canoe which was erected in memory of Pura McGregor a Whanganui community leader and first Maori woman recipient of an MBE 5 A statue of children s story character Peter Pan is also located close to the lake Sculpted by Cecil Thomas and unveiled in 1967 it is a variant of the sculptor s 1965 sculpture in Dunedin Botanic Gardens References edit a b Wilson Zaryd 10 March 2016 Rotokawau now part of lake s name NZ Herald Retrieved 10 March 2022 Rotokawau Virginia Lake www whanganui govt nz Retrieved 10 March 2022 Stowell Laurell 7 March 2022 Relocated statue a symbol love and tragedy NZ Herald Retrieved 10 March 2022 Coxon Terry 7 December 2021 New home beside the lake for weeping Tainui NZ Herald Retrieved 10 March 2022 a b Stowell Laurel 21 August 2020 Date set for opening of memorial to Pura McGregor NZ Herald Retrieved 9 March 2022 Further reading edit Virginia Lake Wanganui Herald Volume VIII Issue 2539 20 July 1875 p 2 Virginia Lake unveiling the statue of Tainui Historical record Wanganui N Z Nov 1978 v 9 n 2 p 3 6 The story of Roto Kawau Mana tangata Dec 1992 Jan 1993 n 14 p 27 Virginia Waters Historical record Wanganui N Z May 1970 v 1 n 1 p 48 51 Wanganui s Virginia Lake New Zealand historic places Sep 1995 n 55 p 14 16 nbsp This Manawatu Whanganui geography article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rotokawau Virginia Lake amp oldid 1158095878, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
