Lake Virginia (Manawatū-Whanganui)

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Lake Virginia
Virginia Lake Reserve, Whanganui 17.jpg
Higginbottom Fountain at Virginia Lake
NZ-NI plain map.png
Disc Plain red.svg
Lake Virginia
Location North Island
Coordinates 39°54′51″S175°01′45″E / 39.9141°S 175.0291°E / -39.9141; 175.0291 Coordinates: 39°54′51″S175°01′45″E / 39.9141°S 175.0291°E / -39.9141; 175.0291
Basin  countriesNew Zealand
Settlements Wanganui

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.

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 Wilson, Zaryd (10 March 2016). "'Rotokawau' now part of lake's name". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  2. "Rotokawau Virginia Lake". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  3. Stowell, Laurell (7 March 2022). "Relocated statue a symbol love and tragedy". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  4. Coxon, Terry (7 December 2021). "New home beside the lake for weeping Tainui". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  5. 1 2 Stowell, Laurel (21 August 2020). "Date set for opening of memorial to Pura McGregor". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 March 2022.

Further reading