Reaction to Boom Boom, the Taupō Sculpture Trust’s sauropod on a volcanic rock, has gone global with coverage in one form or another reaching Europe, the US and Australia.
The exposure, initially negative-tinged but more latterly positive has led to exposure that no $200,000 ad campaign could have matched, said Destination Great Lake Taupō general manager Patrick Dault.
“Our operators have been very creative in weaving Boom Boom into their socials. We’ve seen Boom Boom skydive, raft and take scenic cruises.”
The reaction had provided a valuable opportunity to showcase a vibrant community rich in Māori culture, natural beauty, and artistic expression, Dault said, with online comments reflecting interest from domestic and international audiences, curious to learn more about the region.
Boom Boom added to the town’s artistic and cultural legacy – from the famous Ngātoroirangi Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings to the Lava Glass studio and sculpture garden, Graffiato Taupō's Street Arts Festival, public sculptures, and cultural spaces like Te Ātea Tapuaeharuru.
“This moment places Taupō firmly in the global spotlight as a creative, connected, and culturally rich destination — a place where people, stories, and art meet.”
Taupō Mayor David Trewavas who took the opportunity to promote the region when questioned about Boom Boom on national media last week said: “all of a sudden everyone's loving it.”
While the Taupō District Council might not make the same decision to grant the sculpture trust $100,000 now that it did years ago, it had certainly put Taupō on the map.
“People are coming to look at it and having a picnic by it and what have you… morning TV and then you know, ‘Seven Days’ last night…. That sort of coverage is immeasurable really.”
Sculpture trust deputy chair Christine Robb called the reaction incredible and priceless.
“It was sort of what we imagined but way better... It was never for us. It's for the whole of Taupō. And we know that public art attracts attention and if it's good then it will be so beneficial. And it will be really beloved that sculpture in the end, we know that.”
Money the council had provided the trust – $100,000 in 2018 and this year’s Accelerator Fund grant of $20,000 for the next three years – was the end of council funding, Robb said, with the accelerator money not for sculptures.
It would go towards the trust raising its profile to better attract corporate donations or sponsorship – something Boom Boom had certainly helped with – and educate trustees in governance or strategic planning.
The trust was well underway in raising money for potentially two more $10-11,000 sculptures for the Riverside Sculpture Trail but was also looking for two or three more iconic pieces that would give it international and national appeal.
“We're wanting people from all over the country to go ‘I think there's a really amazing sculpture trail in Taupō let's go to Taupō and see that.’
“We’re really hoping to have iwi and hapu tell their story on some of the sites as well, so there's quite a lot that's involved… that funding will go towards helping us realise that vision.”
Money for the trail would come from community donations or corporate sponsorship.
“(And) It's free to the public… the council don't have to pay for it. Yes, if you want to donate, you can put something towards it, but actually everyone who doesn't want to contribute can still use it. Even if they want to put up a bad Facebook post about it. You can still go down and have a look at it and take a selfie in front of it.”
[The accelerator fund is a multi-year contestable fund that was granted to eight eligible community organisations in February this year, with a maximum of $20,000 available annually for up to three years.
The TDC received 24 applications and those successful were: Mangakino Central Charitable Trust, Tūrangi Rangatahi Hub, Taupō School of Music, Lake Taupō Sports Advisory Council, Taupō Sculpture Trust, Volunteer Great Lake Taupō, Kids Greening Taupō and Safer Tūrangi.
