A Tauranga artist's work will be on permanent display in Whangarei after winning a local competition.
![The kereru-shaped Kaitiaki Manu.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/BZ2ZBMKAAF3AZSKSIGROFHSHHQ.jpg?auth=f93e2807adbf8f3dbc71dd227d82e84347d4c82ee3c35b96f07bee5caee23e9f&width=16&height=25&quality=70&smart=true)
Rex O'Brien won the top prize at the Whangarei Sculpture Symposium with a kereru-shaped "Kaitiaki Manu".
The 10-day sculpting marathon - where artists produced works "live" on Whangarei's Hihiaua Peninsula - brought in more than $60,000 for the 24 artists involved. Mr O'Brien's work was named the winner by judges Andrea Beazley, Keith Grinter, Paul McDonald and mayor Sheryl Mai.
The wood pigeon sculpture was bought by Creative Northland for $6000 and would be displayed on the city's Hatea Loop sculpture walk.