Kiwi Art Trail 2024/25 heading to Napier in November

The Kiwi Art Trail will be heading to Napier in November, making it possible for everyday Kiwis to see an artistic representation of their namesake “in the wild”.

Featuring 20 kiwi sculptures that have been designed by talented New Zealand artists, the Kiwi Art Trail is a family-friendly art installation that celebrate our national icon, the kiwi. When the trail ends the sculptures will be auctioned, and proceeds will be donated to kiwi conservation efforts.

Today, Gallagher Insurance, Save the Kiwi, the National Aquarium of New Zealand, and Napier City Council announced that the Kiwi Art Trail will be heading to Napier in November, following on from Tauranga in October. Two more locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

To add a uniquely Hawke’s Bay flavour, a campaign for two local artists to participate in the Napier leg of the trail also started today. Proceeds from the sale of these two sculptures will be donated to local kiwi conservation efforts.

Principal sponsor Gallagher Insurance (formerly known as Crombie Lockwood) says sending the trail to Napier was a no-brainer.

“Crombie Lockwood began in Napier in 1978 and opened in other regional towns before expanding to larger cities, so when we started talking about where the Kiwi Art Trail could go this year, Napier was a must,” says Gallagher Insurance Sponsorship and Sustainability Manager Cam Castle. “Almost 50 years later, Gallagher Insurance cherishes the support the provinces have given us, so we’re excited to give something back.”

“We’re really looking forward to taking the Kiwi Art Trail to the regions and making kiwi conservation front and centre.”

Rachel Haydon, General Manager of the National Aquarium, says the partnership is about sharing a commitment to an iconic species. 

“At the end of the kiwi tour, the sculptures will be auctioned, with proceeds donated to kiwi conservation work,” Rachel explains. “Our region has a strong kiwi conservation history and we are dedicated to the protection of this treasured species.

“The Kiwi Art Trail offers an enjoyable, new way to engage the community with kiwi and the organisations that work hard to help protect them.”

Choosing two artists to get involved will be tough.

“The calibre of art in the Hawke’s Bay is phenomenal, so we’re excited about the opportunity for two artists to participate in the Kiwi Art Trail. It will be tough to narrow down the entries to just two!”

Save the Kiwi representative Ross Halpin says Napier is a natural city to host the Kiwi Art Trail, because of the extensive kiwi conservation going on in the region.

“The Hawke’s Bay is a prolific supporter of kiwi conservation, from the National Aquarium of New Zealand to Cape Sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers, right through to the kiwi crèche that Save the Kiwi operates with support from Napier City Council,” he says. “Save the Kiwi has a longstanding relationship with Napier City Council, so to bring the Kiwi Art Trail to Napier will be a wonderful opportunity to give back to this passionate community.”

The Kiwi Art Trail will kick off in Napier on Saturday 23rd November and run for 4-5 weeks.

Click here to apply to become one of the local contributing artists.