The Insider's Guide to New Zealand
Animal Driftwood Sculptures
“Keep an eye out for the dragon’s head,” says Jack Marsden Mayer, aka ’Driftwood Jack‘ or ’Drifty Jack‘. Jack’s from Manchester but after visiting New Zealand in 2008, he never went back. He studied art but didn’t take up sculpture until he worked in National Park. “I said to my boss, ‘I’d like to build a sculpture from driftwood’.” The upshot was the now famous life-size T-Rex at Raurimu township. Since then, he has built moas, kiwi, a giraffe, elephants, a humpback whale, kunekune pigs and a godwit. He’d like to build a fantail. He moved to Whanganui to be closer to the source of driftwood – mostly native rata washed down the river on to the beach. The foraged wood is piled in stacks at a disused wool store where he shares space with other artists, including his partner Triona Cooney, a glass artist. Currently, he’s working on a velociraptor. Prices range from $2000 for a little kiwi to $30,000 for a T-Rex. 42 Bedford Avenue, Gonville. 021 069 3819, animaldriftwoodsculptures.com