LONDON EX-PAT CONSERVATION ART AUCTION RAISES NZ$20,000

Paintings by New Zealanders from around the world have raised over $NZ20,000 (approx £8,000) at a London auction aimed at saving the critically endangered New Zealand shore plover(1).

Organised by the New Zealand Society, the auction was part of a gourmet dinner event sponsored by Crown Fine Arts and held in the New Zealand High Commission’s Penthouse in London last week.

New Zealand Society President, Helen Campbell, says that ‘The generosity of the 19 ex-pat and New Zealand-based artists(2) in donating the 29 works for the auction was overwhelming, as was the generosity of those who turned out to support the event’.

A Department of Conservation (DOC) spokesperson said the shore plover (Thinornis novaeseelandia) was on the Department’s critical list with only around 250 birds remaining.
‘DOC is grateful for the funds from the auction which will support a five-year shore plover reintroduction programme underway on Mana Island, near Wellington, and a much needed upgrade of water quality and captive breeding aviaries at the Wairarapa’s Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre.

Ms Campbell said anyone wanting to donate to the appeal could email nzartforplover@nzsociety.co.uk

Ends

For more press information, please contact:
Helen Campbell, President - New Zealand Society 
Tel:  + 44 (0)7876 194 290
Email: nzartforplover@nzsociety.co.uk
 h.m.campbell@ntlworld.com
Web:  www.nzsociety.co.uk

Or
For more NZ shore plover information, please contact:
Shaun O'Connor
Threatened Species Manager
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
Conservation House, 18-32 Manners St, Wellington 6011
PO Box 10-420, Wellington 6143, New Zealand
Tel: +64 (0)4 4713 244
Email:  smoconnor@doc.govt.nz 

Note
(1) The New Zealand shore plover “Thinornis novaeseelandiae is one of the rarest plover species in the world.   It is a Nationally Critical ranked species (the highest possible threat status).  The NZ shore plover is a small, colourful shorebird 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 money raised by the New Zealand Society NZ shore plover appeal art auction will be used to continue the 5 year reintroduction programme on Mana Island and to upgrade the captive breeding aviaries at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre (NWC).

(2) The artists
Elspeth Alix Batt (Member of the NZ Art Guild)
Sally Blyth (Member of the NZ Art Guild)
Tony Brown   (Member of the NZ Art Guild)
Sophia Elise  (Member of the NZ Art Guild)
Chavah Kinloch  (Member of the NZ Art Guild)
Tania Verrant  (Member of the NZ Art Guild)
Nancy Frazer   (Member of the NZ Art Guild)
Jono Carmichael
Jonathan Clark
J Kay de Lautour Scott 
Judy Ellis
Dana Jackson
Alan Joel
Mary Jane Kay
Steve Moase
Shirley Sutton
Rae West
Elisabeth Williamson
Graham Young