Te Rewa Rewa Bridge near New Plymouth, New Zealand

© Matthew Williams-Ellis/Aurora Photos

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge near New Plymouth, New Zealand

This pedestrian and cycle bridge lets residents and visitors in the North Island city of New Plymouth cross the Waiwhakaiho River while marvelling at the span’s artistic design. Said to resemble both a breaking wave and a whale skeleton, the bridge is meant to invoke the sacred relationship between the land, sea and wind with the indigenous Māori people. On one side is an old Māori burial ground so great care was taken in the design and structure of the bridge – an attempt to interfere as little as possible with the Māori site. From the view in this photo, Mount Taranaki lurks in the background.