This memorial was originally erected in 1915 by the Auckland Harbour Board to remember staff who served in the First World War. After years in storage, in 2000 it was restored and re-erected, though minus the orignal ironwork spire and orb which had been lost. It is possibly New Zealand's earliest First World War memorial.
The Evening Post 17 Sept 1915, p6 reported that:
A memorial is to be erected to those members of the Auckland Harbour Board staff who have enlisted. In a letter to the board, the chairman (Mr H. D. Heather) stated that the board in committee had approved of the erection of an obelisk at the new launch landings, which would be used as a daylight beacon and a guiding light at night. The previous decision that a roll of honour should be placed in the public room was rescinded.
In 2022 a project to restore the memorial and original orb and return it to its original location on Quay Street was completed. See Glorious 1915 orb returns to Quay Street, a beacon for safe journeys home (Auckland CIty Council)