The much-loved Ōmokoroa Rock, that has welcomed drivers to the coastal town for the last decade, is set to make a return after being removed to make way for construction of a new roundabout.
The 28-tonne rock, which previously sat on the corner of State Highway 2 and Ōmokoroa Road, is expected to be in position at its new location on the corner of Ōmokoroa Road and Prole Road by early August, Western Bay of Plenty District Council has confirmed.
The Council says geotechnical assessments are currently being carried out, ahead of designing and building a foundation to hold the stone.
“The rock is special to a lot of people in Ōmokoroa. It’s a distinctive local landmark that has become part of the town’s identity,” said Council General Manager Infrastructure, Brad Singh.
“We know its return will be a welcome sight for many in the community.”
The rock, also known as the ‘Lizard Rock’, was originally installed in 2016, along with a large lizard sculpture, which was stolen three years later and never recovered.
In July 2024, the rock was removed and put into storage, to allow construction of the new roundabout.
The new location was confirmed with input from the Ōmokoroa – Kaimai Community Board, and the completion of a transportation safety assessment and investigations to ensure no underground services would be affected.
“This has been a genuinely collaborative effort. Our community cares deeply about how we present the gateway to Ōmokoroa, and it’s been great to work alongside residents, the arts community and Council staff to find a solution that reflects that pride,” says Community Board Chair, Chris Dever.
“The next step is to work with the community to identify a ‘theme’ for Ōmokoroa. Katikati has the murals, Te Puke has the kiwifruit – what makes Ōmokoroa special? Once we identify that, we can look at additional artwork to enhance the entrance to our great community.”
