London auction of NZ art for endangered NZ bird

An auction of NZ art will be held in London in October to raise funds for the NZ shore plover appeal.

The gala event will be stage at the penthouse in New Zealand House on October event. It is being organised by the New Zealand Society in association with the Department of Conservation.

The New Zealand shore plover is one of the rarest plover species in the world. It is a nationally critical ranked species that was once widespread in the coastal areas of New Zealand but by the late 1800s had become confined to a small population on the Chatham Islands. The current world population, including birds in captivity, is estimated at less than 250.

The NZ’s art auction will raise money to continue the five year reintroduction programme on Mana Island and to upgrade the captive breeding aviaries at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre.

The society is now seeking donations of art for the auction from New Zealand artists or art that has a New Zealand theme. The selected art for the auction will be hung exhibited at Suze in Mayfair from September 1 until the auction at New Zealand House.