But it should immediately become obvious to anyone attending that the nine yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho) being auctioned in the Hīkoi o te Taoka Charity Auction at Tūhura Otago Museum on Sunday are actually artworks.
The 1.5m-tall fibreglass statues were hand-sculpted by a Dunedin 3-D artist, and then painted by established and emerging artists from across New Zealand to be used in the Otago Shore and Land Trust’s Art in Action campaign.
They were placed in locations across the South Island, including Dunedin, Oamaru, Wānaka, Arrowtown and Queenstown, to raise awareness of the plight of the hoiho and the immediate need for action to protect them.
Otago Shore and Land trustee Jerad Haldan said the auction was not just about buying a unique piece of New Zealand art.
‘‘It is about being part of a journey, a march, a protest against extinction.
‘‘With less than 500 hoiho on mainland New Zealand, it is our hope that art is not the only thing left of them.’’
Dunedin Wildlife Hospital Trust general manager Suzanne Stephenson said the mainland hoiho population was in ‘‘precipitous decline’’, and unlike other native species such as kiwi, kākāpō and takahē, their protection was not centrally funded.
‘‘It costs the Wildlife Hospital hundreds of thousands each year to provide critical care that is funded by passionate people and organisations.’’
At present, the penguins are on display in an exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum.
On Sunday, they will be auctioned at the museum by Proctor Auctions.
Bidding will take place at the museum and online from 5pm.
All proceeds will go directly to the Otago Shore and Land Trust and The Wildlife Hospital Trust.
