WWF-UK’s network colleagues, WWF-New Zealand launched a new and exciting art project, Whale Tales, to inspire and raise essential funds towards healthy oceans.
The immersive public art trail featured a unique collection of whale tail sculptures inspired by the endangered Bryde’s whale. A mixture of well-known and emerging kiwi artists each painted 80 ‘Big Broos’ (large Tail sculptures) while local schools painted 80 Pēpi (mini Tail sculptures). Each was a bespoke piece of art that aimed to tell a different story about the importance of a healthy ocean. The open-air exhibition was on display across Auckland until 18th April 2022.
Once the trail closed, the mini sculptures were returned to schools to enjoy, while the large sculptures went to a private auction on 2nd May. All proceeds were donated to support WWF-New Zealand’s vital work with local communities to protect and restore the Hauraki Gulf – where overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate change impacts are threatening magnificent marine species such as the Bryde’s whale. This work involves:
- grants to support communities in local freshwater and coastal regions;
- supporting the development system to enable full traceability in our fisheries supply chain;
- support for action-based kaitiakitanga, led by mana whenua to protect and regenerate Waiheke Island’s marine environment;
- the development of a Citizen Science app to capture long-term data on marine mammals in Aotearoa, particularly those living in the Hauraki Gulf, to facilitate spatial-risk assessments for multiple species.
