Otorohanga's Project Kiwiana is doing the pukeko shuffle to the King Country town's Lake Huiputea.

The organisation, formed to make Otorohanga the kiwiana capital of New Zealand, is looking for $13,000 to put a five-metre-tall corrugated iron pukeko on the lakeside between Maniapoto St and Huiputea Dr.

A mock-up, using a photograph of a pukeko superimposed on the site, was presented last week to Otorohanga Community Board, which gave its approval.

"We thought this pose, with a bit of white bum, a leg raised and the classic `looking at you' attitude of a pukeko, would be more interesting than a straight-on pose," said designer Sheryn Clothier, of Corrugated Creations in Tirau.

The company also made the corrugated iron kiwi erected at the north and south end of Maniapoto St about a decade ago. The pukeko would require a footing set into a concrete pad and be built in two pieces for easy installation.

Project Kiwiana member Bev Corboy said the project had been on the organisation's wish list for a while but had been accelerated because the pukeko had been picked as bird of the year by Forest and Bird.

Once the funds were raised and the design finalised Mrs Clothier said it would take her husband Steve Clothier and fellow sculptor Russell Keay about two months to build the pukeko.

Mayor Dale Williams said the council supported the project, which requires a building consent.

"Project Kiwiana have got a 10- year track record of being clever and resourceful and bringing outside visitors into the community. This is another one of them."

chris.gardner@waikatotimes.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News