Q. Elizabeth II Square / AFWT Serie #2 Traditional Geocache

QUEEN ELIZABETH II SQUARE / BRITOMART

At the very bottom of Queen Street, and right before the Auckland Waterfront with the Ferry Building we can find this Square that have never stoped evolving.

Before the area became into the new Britomart transportation center, the old building on the picture was the town Post Office and the hole Square was pedestrian, with water fountains on where now the road runs.

Changes were coming to this corner of Auckland and in the 60's Molly MaCalister designed the first Maori sculpture in Town, the Maori Chief protecting Auckland's waterfront. The 3m-tall warrior looks to the horizon holding a mere, a symbol of peace, in his right hand. It was intended that the welcoming figure would seem to greet visitors and new settlers who, at that time, arrived on passenger liners that docked at the wharves in downtown Auckland. When the design was first unveiled it generated widespread debate as to the form such a figure should take. Some politicians voiced their preference for a more traditional tourist image of a Maori in a fighting pose wearing a grass skirt. Macalister's design is a more sophisticated design, representing the nobility and dignity of Maori in a majestic figure. Originally the work was erected not far from its present site. It stood in Queen Elizabeth II Square outside Auckland's main post office. Macalister designed the work in a scale relationship to the post office building which is now the grand neoclassical entrance to Britomart transport centre. The sculpture was moved to its present site in 2000 during modernisation of the downtown area. 

Kauri trees were planted to make us dreamed of how Tamaki Makau Rau could have looked before all the beautiful treen were chopped down.

The sculpture Te Ahi Kaa Roa represents continued tribal occupation, possession and guardianship of lands, waterways and taonga by Ngati Whatua ki Tamaki. Ngati Whatua have been the customary owners of the Tamaki Makau Rau (Auckland) Isthmus for several centuries. They established Auckland City by inviting Governor Hobson to share the land with them in 1840 gifting over 16,000 acres for this purpose. Te Ahi Kaa Roa references the idea that keeping the home fires burning is essential for the maintenance of mana (authority) and the right to occupy a place. Burning fires are a potent Maori symbol of connection and belonging to the land. Ngati Whatua are the keepers of the flame for Tamaki Makau Rau (Auckland). 

And there are more changes on their way, as now the tallest building in town, the Commercial Bay Building, is planned to be built here.