Te Reo o te Ngahere (The Voice of the Forest)

The tūī, with its iridescent plumage and melodic call, is a taonga of Aotearoa — a treasured voice of the native bush. In Māori tradition, the tūī is often regarded as a messenger and a symbol of eloquence and vitality. Its song echoes through the ngahere, carrying the spirit of life and connection.

Under the protection of the Department of Conservation (DOC), tūī populations have flourished in recent years thanks to habitat restoration and predator control, allowing their music to once again fill our forests and coastal valleys.

Through this work, the artist celebrates the brilliance and mana of the tūī — the shimmering throat feathers, the white poi at its chest, and the living pulse of its call — a song that speaks of balance, beauty, and the enduring voice of te taiao.