Mackenzie in Gold

Explore the story of the artwork >>

Print sizes and editions

• Regular museum archival paper print - 450 x 900mm
  (limited to 75)
• Large museum archival paper print - 640 x 1280mm 
  (limited to 75)
• Extra Large museum canvas print - 770 x 1540mm 
  (limited to 75)

Your unique limited edition fine art print

1. Sofia Minson creates your exclusive signed print
2. We ship for $25 in NZ and from $50 internationally
3. Your artwork arrives rolled, ready to be framed - do you need help? Request framing guidance

Original painting SOLD, acrylic on canvas, 2000 x 1000mm, 2015

The story of Mackenzie in Gold

The large Mackenzie land basin set amidst mountains in the centre of Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island of New Zealand) is home to the only bird in the world with a beak that bends sideways - ngutuparore (the wrybill).

Aoraki Mt Cook

Ngutuparore is pictured here in front of Aotearoa's tallest peak Aoraki Maunga (Mt Cook), perfectly reflected in glacial Lake Pukaki, with oversized Mt Cook lilies and flowering lupins popping up in the foreground.

The wrybill

Intricate Maori and sacred geometric designs highlight and decorate the bird. Matt black markings swallow up light while metallic gold paint shines in contrast.

It is thought that the wrybill's beak developed a bend so it can reach creatures hidden under stones. Much like the cheeky mountain dwellers the kea, the wrybill's boldness around people disguises the fact that they are one of New Zealand's most vulnerable species, with a population of only 5,000.

Kaitiakitanga

In the Māori world view, people are closely connected to the land and nature. Kaitiakitanga is based on this idea of humans being part of the natural world. Kaitiakitanga means guardianship and is a way of managing and protecting the environment.

"Ko te whenua te waiu mo nga uri whakatipu"

"The land will provide sustenance for future generations"

Save the wrybill

Find out how you can be a kaitiaki and help save the wrybill and our Mackenzie Country from dramatic changes due to intensive farming irrigation at www.forestandbird.org.nz/savethemackenzie.

Select your print >>

Sofia Minson Paintings | New Zealand Artwork