Waitakaruru Arboretum has been in the process of development since 1991 at the site of a disused quarry.
This 17.5 ha (42 acre) hillside site provides panoramic vistas over the fertile Waikato valley. The site contains intimate tree-enclosed spaces and interesting landforms including towering cliffs, rocks, a stream, many ponds, and small waterfalls. More than 18,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, representative of flora from many parts of the world.
The first sculpture park event held here was in November 2003 when 47 sculptures were displayed as part of the “Window on Waikato” fundraiser on behalf of Hospice Waikato.
The attractive outdoor setting, ease of vehicular access to place large sculptures, and security all proved to be assets not easily provided in other locations. The idea of providing a venue for sculpture grew out of that success.
The Sculpture Park & Arboretum has been open every day since November 2004, each year holding a full annual programme of exhibitions. Opening weekends have supported various charities including St.John, Oxfam and Parentline.
The quarry cliffs and pond provide the visual and acoustic setting for musical performances.
In the 2007-2008 year, 7000 people visited the park and it was rated a Garden of Significance.
The Waikato Sculpture Trust was formed in May 2007. The sculpture exhibitions in the Park are organized by the Trust Board.
The rehabilitation process has struggled with the lack of topsoil, difficult terrain, strong weed growth and poor water holding capacity. Apart from a few pines, the predominant plants at the outset were gorse, pampas and blackberry. The rehabilitation has been undertaken in a sustainable and pragmatic way as far as resources would permit.
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