Cook Statue

Cook Statue is a white marble monument located at the southeastern corner of Victoria Square, oriented toward the Avon River. The sculpture is carved from a substantial marble block and features explanatory plaques documenting the explorer's journeys.

Sculptor William Trethewey created this memorial in 1932 with funding from Matthew Barnett to honor Captain James Cook's three voyages to New Zealand. It represents an interwar-period work commemorating the significance of these expeditions to the region.

The inscribed plaques describe Cook's expeditions and acknowledge his role as a seafarer in the Pacific region. These texts reflect how the city honors exploration and navigation history.

The monument is accessible year-round in a central city park and visitors can read informative plaques at their own pace. The inscriptions provide useful context for those interested in learning about the explorer's significance.

The monument survived the 2011 Christchurch earthquake without damage, demonstrating the durability of its construction and foundation work. This survival makes it a quiet testament to the resilience of the structure.

GPS coordinates: -43.52803,172.63559

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:47