City to Sea Bridge, Wellington

The City to Sea Bridge is essentially a walkway that doubles as a piece of public art. It officially opened on October 31, 1993, and stretches over the main road called Jervois Quay, creating a link between the city's Civic Square and the waterfront area by Whairepo Lagoon. Nearby, you'll find key city landmarks like the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Town Hall, the City Art Gallery, and the Central Library. This bridge has turned into a notable spot for visitors.

The design task was given to architects Rewi Thompson and John Gray by the Wellington City Council, with artist Paratene Matchitt adding his creative touch. The city wanted the bridge to highlight the importance of the waterfront and the public spaces around it. Matchitt’s unique wooden sculptures, some forming the bridge's sides, are a standout feature. On one side, there are large bird sculptures symbolizing greeting and celebration, while the other side features whale sculptures that also represent Ngake and Whātaitai, two mythical creatures from Māori stories believed to have formed Wellington Harbour.

The bridge also features poles with metal designs, including moon and stars for celestial navigation, and other symbols drawn from Te Kooti's flag, Te Wepu. These elements reflect Te Kooti's ideas, which Matchitt incorporated into this project and his other works. The overall design of the bridge symbolizes Wellington's natural landscape and marks a place of arrival and transformation. At the Civic Square end, there are two stone sculptures by Matt Pine, called Prow and Capital, which blend European and Māori cultural themes.