In te ao Māori, birds and their habits are closely observed, carrying rich metaphor, poetry and instruction. This extraordinary gathering of artworks brings centuries of human engagement with birds to life. Bird Land: Te Kāhui Manu is an immersive exploration that highlights the significance of manu and te taiao—birds and the natural world—in Aotearoa New Zealand’s art history. Gathering birds within the environments they inhabit—forest, river, marsh, mountain, ocean, shore—Bird Land invites reflection on ecological interconnections alongside layered cultural meaning. Balancing vulnerability and wonder, it encourages connection and contemplation of the enduring inspiration of New Zealand’s birds.

This exhibition includes two works from the Chartwell Collection: Elmer Keith by Michael Parekōwhai, and Pareora River Birds, Bird Men and Fish by Theo Schoon.