A restored World War One memorial beacon has been unveiled in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland after its glass orb and bronze spire were remade.
Built in 1915, the monument's original orb and spire went missing after the Quay Street area was developed in the 1960s.
Brent Withers from DPA Architects said it's believed to have been built to guide our soldiers home and to remember those who never returned.
"When the boys were overseas in 1915, they'd only been gone for a year, and somebody had the idea to create a memorial to bring them home," he told Newshub.
The design team used modern tech and "a lot of photos" from different angles to create a digital copy of the spire, said Withers.
"We imported the photos into a CAD program, scaled them, analysed them, and then created a 3D model from that," he said.
Withers was in charge of the documentation and finding the right people to do the job.
"They are true artisans in their craft."
Devonport engineer and metalworker Mark Kininmonth said he was hesitant to get involved initially.
"There were two or three other guys that were lining up to do it. After giving the price, nobody came back - [they] didn't want to do it. So I thought it'd be a really great project to do," Kininmonth said.
He told Newshub having Auckland companies Three Sixty Limited and North Harbour Foundry on board was crucial.
"It looks bloody good, aye! Can't wait for the light to come on."
Kininmonth also said he's happy the Council backed the project until fruition.
"It's really important to get these kinds of things back into Auckland."
Glassblowers from Lava Glass in Taupō made the red orb, which sits atop the spire.
Eric van Essen from Auckland Council said the War Memorial and Te Wānanga beside it reflect the city's mixed identity.
"Te Wānanga has been hugely popular. People have really enjoyed the offering there on the waterfront and that connection. Then to have this memorial restored is just the icing on the cake," he said.
Auckland Council started its $350 million downtown rejuvenation project in 2018.
It was all finished last year except for the WWI memorial, which was finally unveiled this week.
"This piece of work behind us, the memorial, took some time to restore and create the necessary modelling, and get the craftsmen on board to get it completed," van Essen told Newshub.
But he's pleased with the legacy these landmarks will leave.
"This is Tāmaki Makaurau - this is Auckland."
The beacon is the earliest known WWI monument to be erected in Aotearoa, believed to be the only one built while Kiwi forces were still in Gallipoli.
