This sculpture named "Chalice" was commissioned from native Christchurch artist Neil Dawson (born 1948) to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Christchurch and Canterbury, as well as the new millennium. It was officially lit on 10 September 2001, and since that time it has been lit with a floodlight inside the base of the cone, and a spotlight aimed at the exterior from the footpath.

The sculpture has a hexagonal steel structure with a solid steel conical base. Aluminium sheets have been used to create native leaf patterns. The patterns were intended to reflect the geometric features of the cathedral architecture, bearing in mind that it was created before the cathedral was severely damaged in 2011. The higher leaves are more detailed, but less dense.

The sculpture is 18 m high, 2 m in diameter at ground level, and 8.5 m in diameter at the top. The shape was intended to mirror the spire of Christchurch Cathedral... which of course isn't there anymore.