Me in front of the Obelisk on One Tree Hill

A brief write-up on the obelisk...

It was completed on the summit of One Tree Hill by 1940 – the Centennial year of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The unveiling of the Obelisk was delayed until 24 April 1948, after World War two was over, in keeping with Maori custom of not holding such ceremonies during a time of bloodshed. A number of dignitaries were present for the occasion, including the Mayor, the Maori King and various other representatives from both the Maori and Pakeha communities.

Although it was constructed nearly 30 years after Sir John Logan Campbell’s death, it fulfilled the terms expressed in his will and he had reserved money for that purpose. The Obelisk is situated near Campbell’s own grave, but it was not intended to honour him. It was built as a permanent record of his admiration for the achievements and character of the great Maori race. Campbell decided on the idea of an obelisk after admiring them during his travels in Egypt.

The architect who designed the obelisk was Richard Atkinson Abbott. The obelisk is 33 metres in height and is built from reinforced concrete covered in Coromandel tonolite. The base is formed from rusticated basalt blocks and rubbed stone wedges.