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Seeing the smile of a 93-year-old visitor to Arboria confirmed the magic of the walk-through sculpture to Shanti Freed, exhibition manager for the luminarium's creator, Architects of Air.

'If you can show someone of that age something new then it really is special,” she says at the opening of Arboria on The Strand waterfront last night.

Jason and Keegan Hugo enjoy the luminarium at last night's opening. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

The PVC construction – the newest in the UK company's stable – was inflated yesterday afternoon and is suitable for all ages, although children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

The interior colour-filled spaces are wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible and are suitable for people with special needs, particularly autism, says Shanti.

'The intensity of the colour inside changes with the light outside, so the time of day or cloudscape can alter the experience,” she says.

'And because it's a shared experience, that can change hour-by-hour too.”

Tauranga is the final stop for Arboria on its four-city tour of New Zealand and comes as part of the Tauranga Arts Festival. Some 19,000-plus people visited it during its fortnight in Auckland.

Arboria, which is a homage to trees, features interconnecting tunnels and domes with ‘pod' spaces to sit and contemplate, and includes a soundscape inspired by the Ecuadorian cloud forest.

In Tauranga until November 1, Arboria is open from 11am weekdays and 10am weekends, with final admission at 5pm (closed October 19 and 27).

Tickets are available at the door (at the end of Wharf St across the railway line) or timed-entry tickets can be purchased from Baycourt or ticketek.co.nz

See the full Tauranga Arts Festival programme at www.taurangafestival.co.nz