On display from 18 Oct 2025 - Jan 2026 | Free with museum entry
Come along and see this stunning installation taking flight in the Maritime Museum plaza.
Manulele and Whetū is a moving tribute to the birds of Aotearoa whose voices have been lost since human arrival. Created by creatives Brenda Railey and Abby Turbott, the installation began with the humble kono – a woven vessel of sixteen whenu – first crafted during their studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From this simple form, a constellation of 55 manu (birds) emerged, each representing an extinct species, suspended in flight and seeking their whetū (star). The second flock, rendered in red, extends this dialogue, their vivid colour evoking the memory of birds now lost to extinction.
Every strand of harakeke has been treated as taonga – even the offcuts woven back into feathers and points of light. The result is a work that holds both grief and remembrance: honouring what has been lost while celebrating the enduring connections between land, sky, and spirit. In this space, the manu rise again – returning to the night sky, carrying with them the echo of songs we will never hear.