Caroline Bay Playground
1 Virtue Ave
At the Caroline Bay Playground in Timaru, visitors can experience a special cultural and artistic feature lurkng in the sea beneath the flying fox – a striking 12 metre long taniwha artwork designed by local Māori artist Francine Spencer. Inspired by her ancestral connection to traditional Ngāi Tahu rock art found throughout South Canterbury, this mythical sea guardian is set into the playground’s rubber safety surfacing as part of a sea rescue-themed play area.
The taniwha, a supernatural being in Māori tradition, acts as both protector and playful challenge, encouraging children to imagine daring rescues or thrilling escapes. Will the taniwha care for you and grant you a safe passage, or will it bite you with its beak, sting with its tail, or reach out with its claws as you soar over it from a sinking ship to the shore? This installation brings storytelling and cultural heritage into play, helping to deepen connections with local Māori traditions and ideas of environmental guardianship, or kaitiakitanga. Māori artist, Francine Spencer, whose ancestry includes Waitaha, Ngāti Mamoe and Ngāi Tahu, gifted her artwork to the community to celebrate identity, connection and place. The taniwha symbolises the bond between people and the natural world, echoing the ancient stories and rock art created by Māori ancestors in this region. Come to play, explore and connect with the stories of the land – and the taniwha that watches over it.
About the artist
Francine Spencer is a multimedia artist of Māori heritage, affiliated with Taranaki (father) and Waitaha, Kāti Mamoe, Rapuwai, and Ngāi Tahu (mother). Born in Christchurch and now residing on her family land in Temuka, she is a proud Southern woman and an Arowhenua representative.
Francine studied Māori Visual Art and Design at Toihoukura in Gisborne, where she learned traditional Māori knowledge and practices, graduating with a degree in Fine Arts. She describes her art as "not mine, but the art of my people," reflecting her commitment to cultural expression and heritage.
As a member of the CPlay committee, Francine has contributed significantly to the Caroline Bay Playground project in Timaru. She designed the 12-metre-long taniwha artwork beneath the flying fox, inspired by ancestral rock art and Māori mythology. Her work aims to inspire imaginative play and deepen cultural connections for visitors of all ages.
In her role as Cultural Liaison and Design Team member for CPlay, Francine continues to bridge art, culture, and community, ensuring that Māori traditions are honoured and celebrated in public spaces.