Location: Ōtepoti Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand
Hīkoi o te Taoka | March of the Treasure is a powerful travelling public art protest across Te Waipounamu (the South Island), uniting communities and visitors through large-scale art to protect one of the world’s rarest penguins: the beloved hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin).
From Dunedin to Queenstown, larger-than-life hoiho statues will appear in prominent public spaces, transforming everyday locations into a moving call for environmental action. The exhibition blends art, storytelling, and awareness to shine a spotlight on the urgent plight of this taonga species.
Hīkoi o te Taoka, meaning March of the Treasure, reflects the deep cultural and environmental value of the hoiho to Aotearoa. Reimagining activism as a living gallery of hope, the campaign invites people to stop, reflect, and take responsibility for the future of a species on the brink of extinction.
“The hoiho is quietly disappearing from our coastline,” says Jerad Haldan, Trustee of the Otago Shore & Land Trust.
“This hīkoi is about giving the hoiho a voice, through art that stops people in their tracks and reminds us that there is still time to act, if we choose to.”
Art with a Purpose
Each life-sized statue is a vivid artistic expression, designed to spark conversation and connection. Together, they tell the story of the hoiho’s struggle and resilience, reminding us that the survival of this delicate species lies in human hands.
Today, fewer than 400 hoiho remain. Habitat loss, disease, warming seas, and overfishing continue to threaten their survival.
The hoiho is more than an endangered species. It is a treasured New Zealand icon, featured on the $5 note, and a drawcard for visitors from around the world who travel to Otago hoping to glimpse this rare and shy penguin in the wild.
A Call to Action for Media and Community
Hīkoi o te Taoka invites local, national, and international media to follow the hīkoi and share the stories of the statue sponsors (wildlife guardians), artists, conservationists, and communities working to protect this precious species before it is lost forever.
Media outlets, photographers, influencers, and content creators are encouraged to visit the installations, capture the artworks, and amplify the campaign’s message.
Opportunities include visual storytelling, artist and conservation interviews, and coverage of how art-led activism can inspire environmental change.
Installation Locations
Dunedin: Tūhura Reserve, Dunedin Railway Platform, Larnach Castle, plus a roving hoiho appearing at pop-up locations
Oamaru: Cycle Journeys, Victorian Precinct
Wānaka: Outside Puzzling World
Arrowtown: Outside Lakes District Museum
Queenstown: Queenstown Airport terminal, Steamer Wharf, LyLo Hotel.
Hīkoi o te Taoka — March of the Treasure Together
The 10 hoiho statues will then make their way back to Dunedin, where they will be displayed together. The final journey — the march of the hoiho back home — will take place on the following dates at these locations:
The Octagon: 5–10 April 2026
Wild Dunedin’s NatureDome event at Forsyth Barr Stadium: 12 April 2026
Tūhura Otago Museum Exhibition: 14 April – 14 May 2026
Tūhura Otago Museum Live Auction: 8 May 2026
Website: www.otagoshoreandland.org/the-hikoi-project
Follow the journey on social media: #HīkoioteTaoka #ArtForHoiho #MarchTheTreasure
