“Song of the Ngahere” weaves together the wild beauty of New Zealand’s native bush and the urban environment, creating a visual dialogue between the ancient forest and the city streets it now inhabits.

Using abstract, hand-painted foliage to cloak the kiwi in its natural habitat, the intricate layering of greens and organic forms—mimicking punga, ferns, and mosses—creates the impression that the bird is emerging directly from the forest floor, bringing a piece of the ngahere into the city. The vibrant, textured patterns invite viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between human progress and nature, while the meticulous, almost meditative painting process elevates the kiwi to a sacred, deity-like status. This work asks us to reflect on the kiwi’s role as a guardian of New Zealand’s natural heritage.

Through this sculpture, viewers are encouraged to reconsider their relationship with nature, and how, in the face of modern progress, we must protect the fragile ecosystems that sustain both the kiwi and our collective identity.