Hastings City Business Association

The centrepiece artwork for the Hastings City Centre is Suntrap by renowned New Zealand artist Neil Dawson.  Suspended above the city square, Suntrap is a sphere made up of six parasol-type forms, with the negative spaces in between having a leaf form.

A central feature of the plaza is the Performance Platform.  Designed and constructed by Artists in Collaboration, Jacob Scott, Linda Bruce, Ricks Terstappen, William Jameson and Te Rangi Huata, the platform roof is based on te kahu, the hawk, and what he sees as he flies over Hawke’s Bay.

David Trubridge’s fabulous Leaf Lights range from seven to nine metres in height and are scattered in clusters around the central plaza area.  Mr Trubridge says his design was based on recognising the importance of Hawke’s Bay’s horticultural industry.

Sculptor Ricks Terstappen’s Pillars is a collection of Hawke’s Bay industrial memorabilia.  Industrial machines parts, orchard and farm equipment, and other quirky pieces combine to represent Hawke’s Bay industry and culture.

Te Awanga artist, Liz Earth, created the Elements behind the clock tower.  The work consists of four ferro-cement forms with ceramic tile decoration, painting and metal.  The forms represent the Earth, its energy, strata and ancient history and the Sun and atmosphere.

The Nikau Vessel was the final artwork to be erected in the City Square.  The three-metre high sculpture is made out of aluminium and stainless steel.  Water flows over images of grapes and olives, stone fruit and ferns that appear amongst the 108,000 holes cut into its stainless interior.

The Haukanui Water feature is an active kinetic focal point in the heart of Hastings.  Haukanui means ‘life giving waters’ and symbolises the abundant natural water resource of the local aquifer system.