Ōtaki war memorial hall window
This well-known artwork is one of the special treasures of the Kāpiti District. It was created by E. Mervyn Taylor, a famous Aotearoa New Zealand artist from the mid-1900s. His work is important because it helped shape a visual style that feels truly New Zealand.
Taylor’s sandblast-etched window was installed in the Ōtaki War Memorial Hall in 1956. It shows images that reflect the town’s diverse culture at the time, and the Māori history and identity of the community. The window includes faces of Māori and Pākehā soldiers who died in the recent World War, a Māori warrior, a burning sword, a dove of peace, Rangiatea church, and a building linked to local farming.
The windows also hold a powerful story about being broken and rebuilt. In 2006, young vandals smashed the windows with baseball bats, leaving only tiny pieces behind. The people of Ōtaki came together to save this taonga. With support from the Council, the windows were rebuilt using the original plans. They were put back in place, blessed, and officially rededicated at an emotional Anzac Day ceremony in 2007 that focused on reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity.
