Statue of Sir Dove-Myer Robinson

This bronze statue of Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (1901-89) by Tobias Twiss was completed in 2002.  He was a working-class Jewish boy, born in Sheffield, England, who became Mayor of Auckland and served from 1959 to 1980.  His life followed an unusual pattern.

From a working-class Jewish boy in Sheffield to long-serving Mayor of Auckland (1959-1980), Sir Dove-Myer Robinson’s life followed an unusual path. A slight, bespectacled man whose tiny stature was offset by a booming voice and massive ego, he was a natural political campaigner. Associated with a host of local and national causes, he became Auckland’s most recognisable spokesperson. He joined political causes and challenged convention. He fought for our current wastewater treatment process, against French nuclear testing, and an integrated Auckland transport system and city. Though his political career was outstanding and memorable, his personal life was a hotbed of gossip. Four wives, one 20 years his junior, and a very public divorce during one of his terms meant he was never far from the headlines.