Kokako Exhibition

Bob Steiner’s Kōkako Bird Project was created for a special exhibition dedicated to supporting the recovery of the treasured kōkako, in association with the supporters of Tiritiri Matangi, one of New Zealand’s great conservation success stories. The exhibition sought to raise awareness of the importance of protecting New Zealand’s unique native birds and plants, while celebrating the beauty and cultural significance of these remarkable species.

Nature has long been a powerful source of inspiration for Bob’s work. The forms of native flowers, trees, leaves, and birds frequently find their way into his ceramics, where sculpture and pottery merge into expressive pieces that honour the natural world. Through clay, he interprets the elegance, rhythm, and character of New Zealand’s flora and fauna, transforming them into enduring works of art.

The kōkako (Callaeas cinerea) is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive and treasured forest birds, renowned for its haunting, organ-like song and striking blue wattles. It belongs to the endemic New Zealand wattlebird family (Callaeidae), an ancient lineage found nowhere else on earth. This rare family also includes the North and South Island saddlebacks, as well as the now-extinct huia, whose loss remains one of New Zealand’s great conservation tragedies.

By focusing on the kōkako, this project not only celebrates the beauty of a remarkable bird, but also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the fragile ecosystems that sustain New Zealand’s extraordinary natural heritage.