Harbour dishrack, possibly real inspiration for design

I've always thought "cockle shells" was a retrofit explanation designed to impress councillors eager to spend up large on Visions - infrastructure can wait, eh.

Maggie McCormick that moment i thought they were bench of dishes

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  Mike Cooper Kinda like this
  
   
  
  According to the sales pitch its design is relevant to Dunedin's Harbour because it references cockles.
  Cockles?
  Really?
  Mussels possibly, old bleached shells. That's the best fit for the shapes in the design. Or tuatua, toheroa, pipi. But cockles - pfooey! Pull the other one.