Kōura (Red Rock Lobster)

The kōura (red rock lobster) is an icon of Aotearoa’s coastal waters — a species woven deeply into both marine ecology and Māori tradition. Once abundant along the rocky reefs of Northland, kōura now face pressure from overfishing, habitat loss, and a changing climate.

Through the shared principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), the Department of Conservation, Fisheries New Zealand, and local hapū continue to protect this treasured taonga. For Māori, kōura embodies prosperity and connection to Tangaroa, the god of the sea — a living reminder of balance between taking and giving back.

Painting kōura was both a technical and emotional journey. Capturing the richness of its crimson armour — the interplay of light, translucence, and life — demanded immense patience and precision. Few subjects embody such strength and vulnerability. The kōura’s intricate surface, shifting from coral red to deep shadow, mirrors the complexity of the marine world itself — fragile yet enduring.

For the artist, this piece represents not only mastery of form and colour, but a heartfelt connection to Tangaroa and the living pulse of the sea. It is both celebration and reminder — that beauty is born from balance, and skill from deep respect.

Reference image shared by Daryl Sykes, a commercial rock lobster fisherman from 1971 to 1991 who went on to a career in rock lobster fisheries research and management, and remains a Senior Technical Adviser to the NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council.