The 10 fibreglass hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) have been a feature of Dunedin and other parts of the region since they were completed earlier this year.
They 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.
Yesterday, there was a special auction at Tūhura Otago Museum — all of the nine up for auction exceeded the reserve price of $2500, with some going for as much as $4000.
The penguin voted the ‘‘People’s Choice’’ got to stay at Tūhura Otago Museum, while proceeds from the auctions went to the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital and the Otago Shore and Land Trust.
‘‘The point of the campaign was just to raise awareness of the plight of the hoiho and the fact that we have less than 500 mainland hoiho left in existence.
‘‘I think also people gravitated towards the larger-than-life opportunity to see the penguin and just the incredible work that each one of the artists did to tell a unique story. And so it was really 10 different stories within the iteration of the campaign.’’
Mr Haldan said a highlight of the campaign was hosting all of the fibreglass penguins at Forsyth Barr Stadium as part of the Wild Dunedin festival.
‘‘Just seeing children, and the expression on their faces as they walked up and got to touch them and look at them — there’s something about art when you can both touch it and feel it that just helps add to the value of the whole experience.’’
While the proceeds from the auction would be divvied up soon, they would plan next year’s campaign for Art in Action for Conservation, Mr Haldan said.
As always, the plight of the hoiho was on his mind.
‘‘We’re dealing with a severely threatened species. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.’’
