Rakaia’s well-known salmon sculpture will soon be restored, after Ashburton District councillors voted to spend nearly $300,000 on the project.
The decision passed 6–3, with Mayor Neil Brown backing the plan but not casting a vote.
The 12-metre-high statue, built in 1991 by the Rakaia Lions Club, has become a local landmark. But a maintenance check last year revealed cracks, peeling paint, and exposed fibreglass, which risk letting moisture into the structure. Experts warned that delaying repairs could lead to much higher costs, or even the statue’s removal.
The only tender came from Phil Price Sculptures Ltd, the original creators, who offered to carry out the repairs and a complete repaint. Their $215,000 proposal did not include transport, crane work, and support pole repairs, which added about $82,000, bringing the total budget to $297,000.
Mayor Brown defended the cost, noting that the last refurbishment in 2005 cost around $120,000 and that today’s price was reasonable once inflation was considered. He also stressed that the salmon is iconic and helps put Rakaia “on the map.”
Some councillors disagreed. Richard Wilson supported the project but called the price shocking. Rob Mackle questioned whether building a brand-new salmon might be cheaper, while Phill Hooper and Russell Ellis opposed the “astronomical” cost.
