Sculptures.org.nz
Original image by Keith Miller
Nikau
| Artist | Ian Athfield |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Location | Located in Civic Square and on Harris Street |
| Tour directions | From Te Aho a Māui, continue walking towards Civic Square and go down the stairs on the left towards Nikau |
Make like a tree and weave
The nikau is the only species of palm endemic to New Zealand. Traditionally, the bases of the inner leaves and young flowers were eaten; food was wrapped in the leaves for cooking; and the old fibrous leaves used for baskets, floor mats, and waterproof thatch for buildings.
Sculpture background
Nikau is one of fifteen stylised nikau palm trees designed by architect Ian Athfield made from copper, zinc, and steel.
The sculptures were originally conceived as a way of covering up the unsightly structural-support pillars, but have since become iconic symbols of Wellington City.
Nine of the trees are structural supports for the Wellington City Library and six stand free from architectural burden. The free-standing nikau palms in different parts of Civic Square help to integrate the buildings and the space as a whole.
- City to Sea Bridge Para Matchitt, John Gray, Rewi Thompson 1992 -41.28871249 174.7785641 /__data/assets/image/0019/1765/thumb-city-to-sea-bridge.jpg City to Sea Bridge /tours/civic-square/city-to-sea-bridge
- The Rugby World Cup Celebration Weta Workshop 2011 -41.288575 174.778189 /__data/assets/image/0003/1659/thumb-the-rugby-world-cup-celebration.jpg The Rugby World Cup Celebration /tours/civic-square/the-rugby-world-cup-celebration-sculpture
- The Pool Charlotte Fisher 1994 -41.2889891 174.7782308 /__data/assets/image/0020/1658/thumb-the-pool.jpg The Pool /tours/civic-square/the-pool
- Te Aho a Māui Rewi Thompson 1991 -41.288906 174.778100 /__data/assets/image/0004/1768/thumb-te-aho-a-maui.jpg Te Aho a Māui /tours/civic-square/te-aho-a-mui
- Nikau Ian Athfield 1991 -41.28898896 174.777868 /__data/assets/image/0005/1769/thumb-nikau-palms.jpg Nikau palms /tours/civic-square/nikau-palms
- Anchor Stone Ra Vincent 2004 -41.28912996 174.7776281 /__data/assets/image/0014/1652/thumb-anchor-stone.jpg Anchor Stone /tours/civic-square/anchor-stone
- Pig Alan Hobbs 1995 -41.28903118 174.7775287 /__data/assets/image/0016/1654/thumb-pig.jpg Pig /tours/civic-square/the-pig
- Prow and Capital Matt Pine 1991 -41.28877964 174.777552 /__data/assets/image/0017/1655/thumb-prow-and-capital.jpg Prow and Capital /tours/civic-square/prow-and-capital
- Ferns Neil Dawson 1998 -41.2887753 174.77721 /__data/assets/image/0020/1766/thumb-fern.jpg Fern /tours/civic-square/ferns
- Fault Ralph Hotere and Bill Culberth 1994 -41.28856 174.77724 /__data/assets/image/0014/1904/thumb-fault.jpg Fault /tours/civic-square/fault
- Seven Steps to Heaven Mary-Louise Brown 2000 -41.28885063 174.7767735 /__data/assets/image/0018/1656/thumb-seven-steps-to-heaven..jpg Seven Steps To Heven /tours/civic-square/seven-steps-to-heaven
- Silent People Chris Booth 1991 -41.28860247 174.7766809 /__data/assets/image/0019/1657/thumb-silent-people.jpg Silent People /tours/civic-square/silent-people
- Grand Head Terry Stringer 1986 -41.28908086 174.775988 /__data/assets/image/0015/1653/thumb-grand-head.jpg Grand Head /tours/civic-square/grand-head
