Massey memorial, Miramar, Wellington

William Ferguson Massey was New Zealand prime minister from 1912 to 1925. When he died in office in 1925, this memorial was erected at Point Halswell, overlooking Wellington harbour. Massey was buried in a crypt below the edifice. In 1932 Christina Massey, his widow, was interred there.

I spent an hour studying and taking photos of the memorial. I wanted to break away from the usual shots (you know, the Taj Mahal type images), which look along the marble walk to the main feature, a semicircle of seven marble columns with a curved marble block on top. Around this semicircle the words 'A Memorial of Loyal and Faithful Service to King and Country' are inscribed - an interesting reflection of the patriotic and imperialistic concerns of earlier generations of New Zealanders.

I shot this photo from behind the semicircle, looking through the gap between two columns to isolate the word 'King'.