Whale Song, a key component of the New Central Park development, is heading into Resource Consent early July, via the Fast Track process.
The new location has been decided within the larger 8ha wetland restoration that is a significant part of the plans. See attached image.
Organisers say Whale Song is a transformational eco-cultural initiative centred around the creation of a monumental, world-class whale sculpture in Kāpiti, designed to be visible from motorways, the rail network and across Kāpiti. Anchored in Māori values, local stories and environmental regeneration, the project blends art, culture and innovation to deliver long-term social, economic and environmental benefits for Aotearoa New Zealand.
At its heart, Whale Song is an anchor destination for regional tourism, designed to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, while catalysing broader investment in the Kāpiti region and reinforcing the district’s identity as a place of creativity, resilience and deep cultural heritage.
Strategically aligned with national priorities, Whale Song supports:
• Tourism-led regional growth, enhancing Aotearoa’s cultural infrastructure and creating lasting economic uplift.
• Resilience and placemaking, providing a symbolic and physical beacon of regeneration in the face of environmental and social change.
• Māori partnership and cultural leadership, ensuring iwi are deeply involved in storytelling, governance and future benefit-sharing.
• Sustainability, through environmental restoration, low-impact design and connection to wider green infrastructure.
Whale Song is more than a sculpture – it is a bold, multi-decade legacy project designed to amplify New Zealand’s global identity, grow regional pride and inspire intergenerational engagement with te taiao (the natural world) and te ao Māori.
With foundational planning complete and growing support across public and private sectors, Whale Song is seeking strategic partnership and investment to realise its full potential as a national icon and regional catalyst.
