I.B. Posse Makes Baby Kiwi Sand Sculpture for New Zealand Earthquake Victims

Members of I.B. Posse, at least year's U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition in Imperial Beach, are currently traveling through New Zealand with members of their family.

Originally, in the first Inaugural New Zealand Sandcastle Competition in Christchurch, but a 6.3-magnitude earthquake crippled the city and the event was postponed.

So instead of taking part in the competition, team captain Leonard Gonzales, with help from his wife Irene, made a sand sculpture in tribute to the victims of the earthquake to wish the country a quick recovery Sunday in the city of Mount Maunganui.

Had there been no earthquake, Sunday would have been the final day of the competition.

“A baby kiwi bird emerges from its shell with assistance from an elder,” reads a photo caption on the group's Facebook page. “The process requires courage but brings new life, much like what Christchurch is experiencing now.”

Now in the country for a little over a week, the group has only been able to travel around the nation's north island.

“It was not recommended to go to Christchurch because at the time they were still in ‘rescue mode,’ ” Gonzales said.