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Our Lady of Omanaia


We spotted this rather strange looking statue in the middle of nowhere and thought to ourselves "what the.....?!?!?". In Omanaia, just off the Rawene turnoff there is this icon place strategically up on a hillside and after googling it I've found out that it's known as "Our Lady"placed there by the mostly Catholic community of this area to protect motorists from accidents.

Apparently it was created about 150 years ago in France from melted down armaments collected from the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 and was bought to Napier here in NZ in 1890 to be used in St Patrick's Church before being moved to Auckland in 1990. Time and weather had taken it's toll but the locals have had it restored nicely by the look of it.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.
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Comments

gz said…
beautiful..motorists need all the protection they can get nowadays!
30 October 2018 at 08:14
Billy Blue Eyes said…
Normaly see them in Ireland and Europe
30 October 2018 at 08:32
William Kendall said…
That's come a long way from its point of origin!
30 October 2018 at 10:13
Wayne said…
Interesting story!
30 October 2018 at 10:36
Susan Heather said…
Interesting - I seem to recall seeing it but hadn't looked into it.
30 October 2018 at 14:49
Andrea said…
OH that little landmark has a lot of history in it! Thanks.
30 October 2018 at 15:15
local alien said…
Strange for NZ! Interesting history
30 October 2018 at 21:53
Rhonda Albom said…
The statue has a great history and a good new home.
30 October 2018 at 23:04
Photo Cache said…
Is this not a destination spot yet?

Worth a Thousand Words
31 October 2018 at 03:45
carol l mck said…
Lovely find and photo ~ Our Lady has blessed many ~

Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
31 October 2018 at 09:57
Sharon said…
What an interesting find and such a great history.
1 November 2018 at 04:25
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