Seen those bronze rocks over there? That’s the Karangahape Rocks Fountain. It is more than just a sculpture. It’s a piece of Auckland’s history.
The Karangahape Rocks, also known as the Karangahape Road Fountain, was created by New Zealand sculptor Greer Twiss. It stands proudly in Pigeon Park on Karangahape Road. This artwork was Twiss’s first large-scale public commission. Unveiled in 1969, it is one of Auckland’s earliest contemporary public sculptures.
Originally, the Karangahape Rocks Fountain was a working fountain. It features three bronze spherical shapes and two seated figures. After Twiss returned from England in 1966, the Auckland City Council commissioned him to create an artwork for Pigeon Park that included water. Commissioning the artwork stirred controversy among Aucklanders because of the cost.
The artwork includes one large and two smaller bronze “rocks” or spherical discs. Two figures sit on the larger disc. They seem to be gazing at their surroundings. Twiss wanted the water to be fully enclosed. This design would prevent it from spraying into the area on windy days. Small grooves were designed for water to flow through the Karangahape Rocks. Twiss drew inspiration from water-smoothed stones found in rivers or along the foreshore.
Twiss described the construction as “traumatic”. Creating the casts took from 1966 to mid-1967. The absence of bronze casting facilities in New Zealand made it harder. Twiss even injured himself twice. He broke ribs and later damaged his foot when a piece of the sculpture fell. He avoided visiting Karangahape Rocks until 1970. That was a year after it was unveiled.
Twiss described his work as a rocky seaside with water and rocks. People are sitting beside them. He wanted to move away from the conventional idea of a fountain. He didn’t want it to be just a sculpture in a pool.
Mayor Dove-Myer Robinson switched on the fountain at the unveiling in April 1969. The Karangahape Rocks marked a turning point in Twiss’s career. He moved from figurative to literal works.
Over time, the bronze has acquired a green patina. The water feature broke in the late 1980s. Restoration plans began in 2005. The sculpture was repaired in 2012. Local historian Edward Bennett noted few realized it was a fountain when it was broken. The water elements were so hidden.
Art historian Robin Woodward called the Karangahape Rocks “one of the most successfully integrated sculptures in any urban environment”. Michael Dunn and Edward Bennett saw influences of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Dunn compared it to Moore’s Seated Figure Against Curved Wall. Roy Dunningham and Andrew Paul Wood think the figures look like people waiting for a bus. Lisa Reihana cited the Karangahape Rocks as one of her favourite Auckland sculptures.
So, next time you pass by, take a moment to appreciate the Karangahape Rocks. It is an early example of public art that still sparks conversation and admiration today.