Lincoln Reserve's new facilities open

17 November 2022

Sea, sand, and Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest bird were all on hand for the opening of Kaipara’s newest loos.

The facilities, set within Lincoln Reserve in Mangawhai, were blessed on Tuesday November 15.

The opening was attended by staff who worked on the project, artist Shann Whitaker, and representatives from Te Uri o Hau and the New Zealand Fairy Tern Charitable Trust. A blessing was led by kaumatua Ben Hita from Te Uri o Hau.

The site where the facilities are located looks out to Mangawhai’s estuary and sand dunes – a landscape that inspired the artwork which adorns the toilet building and water tank. The mural features the Mangawhai harbour landscape and tara iti/fairy tern which nest in this area. The collaborative work was designed and painted by Waipu artist Melinda Butt and Mangawhai artist Shann Whitaker.

New Zealand Fairy Tern Charitable Trust convener, Heather Rogan, acknowledged the artists’ work in her speech. She also highlighted the importance of building awareness of New Zealand’s rarest bird and its fragile habitat.

Partial funding for the toilets was provided by the Tourism Infrastructure Fund administered by the Ministry of Innovation and Employment.

Lincoln Reserve's new toilet facilities, opened on November 15, feature a colourful marine and fairy tern-themed mural. PHOTO/SUPPLIED