Glorious design to return to nature

INSPIRATION: Artist Anna Borrie on Anzac Memorial Bridge with the cloak at her feet.

A unique work of art made of white rata vine and flax fashioned to recognise Anzac Day at Kaiparoro will eventually return to nature.

The 10-metre long cloak features 800 harakeke (flax) poppies and remained on display at the Anzac Memorial Bridge along with the floral tributes left by those who attended the Kaiparoro Anzac Day Service.

Many people within the community turned their hand at helping to craft the cloak at New Zealand Pacific Studio, the new name for the previously known New Pacific Studio at Kaiparoro, but the woman mostly responsible for crafting it was Anna Borrie.

Borrie has been an artist in residence at the studio for three weeks having been selected as the recipient of the Anzac Fellowship sponsored by Trust House.

Her Harakeke Poppy remembrance project was co-ordinated by Kath Miller and with help from the studio's secretary-treasurer Lynette Dewes, Evie Dewes, 15, schools, a youth group came to pass.

Friends of Anzac Bridge were also supportive of the project and members of that group did the Anzac Day service.

Borrie said hundreds of hours went into the project from its instigation until its display at the bridge on Anzac Day.

The cloak was made of materials that would eventually allow it to return to the earth.

Finding and securing the vine was an experience in itself with those who volunteered to bring it to the workroom having to don wet suits to combat driving rain.

Then the flax had to be harvested in keeping with Maori customary ways.

A workshop was held at Eketahuna Library where community volunteers each with a role to play, got to work making the cloak.

Since the Anzac service the cloak has remained draped along the bridge encompassing the plaque commemorating servicemen from the Kaiparoro area who fell during the world wars.