ON THE EASEL – Tiritiri Matangi Island – The island of treasures

TIRITIRI MATANGI ISLAND – The island of treasures Tiritiri Matangi Island – On the easel 2023-26 Tiritiri Matangi Island painting

Ask at this link for the framed original or number 1 of 25 limited edition acrylic enhanced reproductions.

THE STORY

Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf is a world renowned wildlife sanctuary where New Zealand’s endangered birds are given a chance to recover and thrive. Nestled off Auckland’s east coast, it has become one of the region’s true treasures. Tiritiri Matangi Island oil painting

Our forefathers, limited by the knowledge of their time, could not foresee the ecological harm that would follow a growing population. Their choices were shaped by survival and the need to build a future for their families, not by the environmental understanding we have today.

Today we are more aware. With increasing population pressures and new predators, native habitats continue to shrink. Yet places like Tiritiri remind us of hope. Through care, restoration, and God-given wisdom, we are able to transform what was damaged. Tiritiri stands as a gift—an act of stewardship for this generation and the ones yet to come.

My reasons

Researching Tiritiri’s history inspired this painting statement and the vision behind it. Our environments give us resources to use, yet they also call us to wise stewardship. We live in a financial world where nature is often overlooked, but caring for creation is part of our responsibility before God and each other.

Like it or not, money shapes decisions, and true restoration carries a cost. If something is heading toward extinction—whether a species, a habitat, or a fragile ecosystem—we are called to act wisely to bring it back. And once recovery begins, ongoing care is needed to protect that progress for the generations that will follow.

The stars of the show

Look closely and you’ll find many forms of flora and fauna woven into the painting. Tiritiri Matangi has received twelve translocated endemic birds species, while other introduced birds arrived on their own. some settling and others drifting in and out. Swallows visit each year. Several non-endemic species—carried by their own wings on the wind—also make the island home. Shorebirds and seabirds often drop in, and in 2010 a pair of oystercatchers nested on Hobbs Beach, prompting man-made protection so their two chicks could hatch safely.

If we look closely at creation, we see God’s wisdom at work. And whether or not we agree on who gave us life, the call to protect what we’ve been entrusted with is made evident through the heartfelt enthusiasm of the vision’s custodians and the many volunteers who serve beside them.

This painting reflects that living story of care and stewardship.

I’m also creating a panoramic photo storybook to accompany the painting, planned for release in late 2026.

STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL FOR SALE * On the easel, unframed size 1520mm x 910mm.
Painted with professional oils on the fine weave, gesso primed long-life cotton canvas. The canvas is stretched on New Zealand pine and treated with brushed dammar varnish protection.
* Original and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

25 LIMITED EDITION “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price and sizes.

75 LIMITED EDITION CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS * 
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas and protected with two coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch-mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.

FASHION

Images from “Tiritiri Matangi Island- the Islands of Treasures”  will be exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

SHIPPING

• Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
• The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance-coded Authentication of Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
• Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

AWARDS