Aotea Square

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Art in Aotea Square

The Sir Dove-Myer Robinson statue by Toby Twiss

This bronze statue of Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, a former mayor of Auckland, was made in 2003 by New Zealand sculptor Toby Twiss and is located at the Queen Street entrance to Aotea Square.

Untitled by Paratene Matchitt

This massive metal and wood sculpture which rises for two levels on the outside of the Aotea Centre was installed in 2010. Although untitled, the work could be summed up by the Māori word manaaki which means hospitality. Matchitt's interpretation of the work is that the powerful pieces of timber at the bottom represent the people of today, while the stainless steel forms at the top are the ancestors, both Māori and Pakeha.

The Lord Auckland statue by Henry Weekes

The bronze statue of Lord Auckland dressed in his scholar's gown holding a scroll was originally unveiled in India in 1848. In 1969 it was gifted to Auckland by the government of West Bengal. The statue is sited outside the council's Civic Administration Building.

Red Dancer by Barry Lett

This four meter high sculpture is made of hundreds of pieces of tanalised pine which have been screwed and then glued together.

According to Lett, the figure has 'hero' and 'antihero' qualities. These relate to the theatrical themes of comedy and tragedy, and are emphasised by the pose of the dancer.

Fittingly, the work is mounted on the outside of the Aotea Centre, Auckland's premiere performing arts venue, facing the square.

Waharoa by Selwyn Muru

This tall wooden arch confronts visitors as they enter Aotea Square. Meaning gateway in Māori, Waharoa was formed from wood and copper in 1990 by Māori artist Selwyn Muru. It is an expressionist version of a traditional Māori entry gate.

Terry Stringer's Mountain Fountain has been re-sited at the Holy Trinity Catherdral in Parnell.  Lyndon Smith’s bronze crouching warrior sculpture Te Wero, which was also originally in the suite of Aotea Square public art works, will soon be re-positioned outside the NZ Mint building in Myers Park, Auckland city.  

Updated September 2011