It was a VERY hot and sunny day today (25°), but it felt much hotter. Despite that, I went out in the hottest part of the day to walk around central Auckland. Here’s why.
From now until the 23rd of March, you can see 20 street sculptures of kiwi, the national bird of Aotearoa New Zealand. You can see them if you follow the map below.
Kiwi are nocturnal birds, meaning they come out at night, but in these pictures, they’re standing under the blazing sun.
At the beginning of my walk, I was walking towards the sculpture below when I saw an older woman standing in front of it. At the foot of each sculpture, it clearly says in capital letters: DO NOT CLIMB. This grandmother was taking a photo of her granddaughter. Where was the little girl? Sitting on top of the kiwi! The kiwi is even pointing to the words with its beak! Somebody needs reading glasses or reading lessons!
After the 23rd of March, the sculptures will be up for auction, and the money raised will go to help preserve the kiwi, which is endangered.
A few years ago, there was a similar street exhibition, but that time, it was owls, not kiwi. When the exhibition ended, the owls were auctioned, and this one was bought by someone who lives near me. It’s just sitting in their garden for everyone to see and enjoy.
And years before that, I remember another sculpture exhibition that was for cows. The one below was bought by a company that is across the road from my house. It’s a small world.
Now Hear this. 
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