Opened on 31 October 1993,[1] the wedge-shaped bridge crosses arterial road Jervois Quay, connecting the public spaces of Civic Square to the Wellington waterfront precinct at Whairepo Lagoon.

[3] Wellington City Council developed a brief for a bridge that could address the significance of the waterfront and public space, and, importantly, that it should be a bi-cultural project that celebrated a relationship between Māori and Pākehā.

A large pyramid-shaped structure and Matt Pine’s classically shaped limestone sculptures frame the base of the brick steps leading from the library and City Gallery.

The steepness of the sea side of the bridge was proposed by Gray and Thompson to mimic the uplifted and eroded landforms of Wellington and symbolise a point of arrival and change.

On one side are two whales representing the taniwha Ngake and Whātaitai,[4] who according to the Māori creation story of Wellington Harbour, carved a path to the open sea and turned to stone and earth to rest upon the shore.

On top of the bridge, six tall pouwhenua point upward toward the sky, with metal shapes of stars, moons, and other symbols inspired by themes of celestial navigation celebrating Māori arrival to Aotearoa.

[8] A plaque here states:Capital and Prow: The sculptures by Matt Pine on either side of the stairs are part of a series of 10 works called Reflections on an Ancient Past.

[24] The councillors who voted for against the amendment and for the demolition to proceed were: Tory Whanau, John Apanowicz, Tim Brown, Laurie Foon, Sarah Free, Rebecca Matthews, Ben McNulty, Teri O’Neill, Geordie Rogers, (Liz Kelly, Holden Hohaia).

Those trying to prevent the demolition: Diane Calvert, Nureddin Abdurahman, Iona Pannett, Tony Randle, Nīkau Wi Neera, Nicola Young.