Artwork Information

Hoyte is most commonly known for his panoramic scenes of Auckland which employ a distinctive palette of cool blues and greens. A view such as this one, which records the environmental damage wrought by gold mining in a muddier palette, is rather atypical and is more frequently associated with his contemporary, Alfred Sharpe.

Typically, gold mining in early New Zealand was a loner’s life. What distinguished a gold mining town from settlements were buildings such as raupo whare or thatched huts, tents and wooden shacks, along with the constant noise and motion throughout the day and night. (Enduring Nature: Hoki Atu Hoki Mai, 2004)