Mount Maunganui's Gareth Morgan had hoped to locate a new, landmark sculpture on public land outside his Marine Parade home, and recently took his proposal to Tauranga City Council.

Papamoa arts blogger Rosalie Crawford interviewed Gareth, who saw his proposal narrowly defeated by just one vote.

Rosalie Crawford interviews Mount Maungnaui's Gareth Morgan. Video: Supplied.

Launched in Perth on Australia's Indian Ocean coast in 2005, David Handley's Sculpture by the Sea has a captivating backdrop of long horizons and sunsets and has become a majestic sculpture-packed coastal walk.

I totally get it when David writes: 'I have always loved large community arts events like ‘Opera in the Park' and ‘Symphony Under the Stars' – especially the way total strangers sit next to each other listening to music while enjoying a picnic dinner.”

This sense of community also happens we have the Night Owl Cinema at Mount Drury, when we watch Jamie Harkins create his 3D sand art drawings, or when people wander along the Pilot Bay boardwalk and listen to my piano playing while watching the sun set.

We pause in these moments, and experience something powerful – participating and immersing ourselves in a human expression of art which has in turn immersed itself into the natural beauty around it.

The next day the tide has come in and washed the sand art away, the sun has set, taking those moments into yesterday, or the piano has been wheeled home.

We don't need to ask what it was for, or what it meant. It just is. We were in the moment where it happened, the stars sang, and we knew who we were.

There are few opportunities to enjoy cultural activities that are free.

Recently, I was asked by various members and representatives of our community whether I thought the council should accept Gareth Morgan's offer to pay for a 9.9m high million-dollar sculpture, made by New Zealand artist Phil Price, to be located on the corner of Pacific Ave and Marine Parade.

I happened to meet Gareth, so I asked him what he thought about talking on video so we could present it to the Mount community to hear from him direct about his proposal. He was more than willing, so here's our chat about it.