Songwriter, Composer and Musician
Westlaker 1972-1975  

This sculpture inspired by his song ‘“Bathe In The River/Kōrukutia”. 
The Te Reo translation was by Tweedie Waititi 

​Don wrote this song for Toa Fraser’s 2006 film “No. 2”. He’d always wanted to write a ‘secular gospel’ song, about wanting to dive into the world of people; to feel blessed, supported and challenged by the human river, with all its life and energy. Sung by Hollie Smith, the song went on to spend 37 weeks in the NZ Top 40 and won Don an APRA Silver Scroll award. Tweedie Waititi’s 2021 translation, commissioned by the Waiata Anthems TV series, brought the song to a new audience. 

​English Version
Te Reo Version

​Don McGlashan is a songwriter, composer and musician. He was in From Scratch, Blam Blam Blam, and The Front Lawn. He formed The Mutton Birds in the 90s, living in London with the band during that time. The band’s album “Envy of Angels” made the UK Sunday Times ten best albums of the year list in 1996. 
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​Since The Mutton Birds, Don has made several acclaimed solo albums, including “Bright November Morning” (2022), which went to No 1 in the NZ charts; a milestone in a long career which has included top ten albums in each decade.  

​Don was made an Arts Laureate in 2002 and was Michael King Writer In Residence in 2013.  He has also written many award-winning scores for film and television.  

Don was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the 2023 APRA Silver Scroll Awards. ​

​For more information go to:  Don McGlashan - The Official Website

Information about the sculptor​

Jeff Thomson was born and raised in Castor Bay, Auckland.  He attended Westlake Boys High School from 1971 – 1975 and went on to study at the Elam School of Art attached to the University of Auckland.  Although he studied painting and printmaking, he made his move to become a fulltime sculptor in 1986 with a particular focus in using corrugated iron.  

Jeff’s work often appears as large-scale sculptures of corrugated iron animals, birds, cars, and people, and include public works and commissions installed in towns and cities throughout New Zealand.  Ten of his sculptures form part of Allan Gibb’s Kaipara Sculpture Park, known as “The Farm”. To date, Jeff has participated in nine of the “Sculpture on the Gulf” biennial exhibitions held on Waiheke Island. 

Jeff has exhibited in New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, and the US and has works held by the Heide Museum of Modern Art, Museum of New Zealand and a further two major public national galleries.  He is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading and most original contemporary artists today.   

Jeff was instrumental in designing and constructing the archway (waharoa) that takes pride of place at the main school entrance.  In 2017, when it was installed, the school began the tradition of welcoming Year 9 students and farewelling graduating Year 13 students as they walked beneath the arch.   

You can read more about Jeff and his career here: https://bit.ly/3oDCrlD  

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