For those walking through a five-acre private garden in Wanganui, New Zealand, they are greeted with an African animal that many wouldn’t anticipate: A white rhinoceros.

While the white rhinoceros is not an animal people would typically see in New Zealand, it catches the eyes of onlookers while resembling the rich cultural ancestry that surrounds the Māori (indigenous people). The spiral designs (Koru) not only give the sculpture a quirky look and feel but also resemble New Zealand culture. The sculptor could have chosen any animal, but intentionally chose the white rhinoceros because of it being an endangered species.

With many different methods to choose from, hot-dip galvanizing was a differentiator for the project because of its strength, durability and aesthetic appeal. It was proven to be the best method compared to other options because of the desired color to resemble a white rhinoceros as well as its flexibility to craft intricate designs along its body. To achieve the desired color, the entire .3T white rhinoceros was hot-dip galvanized, requiring the team to communicate throughout the process to ensure there was no damage to the delicate structure.

The climate in New Zealand was another factor that the team had to take into consideration as it could easily deteriorate in the salty sea air surrounding the area. This marine environment would wreak havoc on steel that hasn’t been protected. Any sign of scratches or chipping would promote corrosion and would take away from the prominence of the sculpture.

Hot-dip galvanizing offered a solution to corrosion protection that is expected to last 20-30 years down the road. By choosing to galvanize the sculpture over other paint methods, the silvered steel transformed the sculpture into a historic piece of art that will allow future generations to enjoy for years to come.