New Exhibition - Estuary Arts
"Boats and Birds" Sculpture by Michael Irwin
24 September to 20 October 2019
Michael has always had a love of boats and birds from his earliest memories. He loves the form and shape of both and how they can dip and soar through their respective environments. He has spent many hours from an early age tramping, climbing, sailing and swimming where he learnt to love and enjoy the unique coastal and mountain environments. Nothing is more enjoyable than cutting through the sea, with all sails set, with the birds soaring in the wind; or sitting on a mountain peak or surrounded by huge trees of our bush. Both the bush and the sea have been places of adventure and quietness that have inspired his sculpture. The stone used in the sculptures are Taranaki andesite (hard and grey) and Oamaru stone (white).
Michael has been a teacher and educator of art for over 50 years. He has organised whole school art events and assisted children and teachers to create their own special art works. He specialised in art at Hamilton Teachers’ College where he first began sculpturing.
The last 20 years of his employment was as a Senior Lecturer at Massey University, where he was a programme coordinator for teacher training and lectured in the Arts and how to teach and develop Creativity with children. He is a member of the Te Kupenga Stone Sculpture Society in New Plymouth, where he regular travels to carve stone. He has taught night classes in pottery and painting, and is a tutor at Estuary Arts Centre.
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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.2% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
Prices slashed for the weekend
Epic books from a collectors collection, only $1 a book today and all weekend long, some great art books and books on NZ history, bestsellers, and lots more.
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