Wildlife Guardian (statue sponsor): OceanaGold Macraes Operation
About the Artist: Ginney Deavoll is a New Zealand painter and storyteller whose work is deeply inspired by the wild and untamed beauty of Aotearoa. With a background in adventure and exploration, her creative practice is shaped by time spent in remote landscapes—kayaking, tramping, and mountaineering—where she forms an intimate connection with the land, sea, and skies that later emerge on canvas.
Working primarily in acrylics, Ginney’s paintings are known for their vibrant colour palettes and layered textures that capture not only the physical presence of a place, but also its mood, atmosphere, and wairua (spirit). Her art invites viewers to pause, reflect, and experience the awe she feels when immersed in nature’s vastness.
Beyond painting, Ginney shares her creative journey through writing and storytelling, weaving narratives that complement her visual work. She has exhibited throughout New Zealand and her art is held in private collections both locally and internationally.
Website: www.ginneydeavoll.com
Instagram: @ginneydeavoll
About the Art in Action Hoiho:
My hoiho statue is designed as a tribute to the yellow-eyed penguin / hoiho and the fragile world it depends on. I have painted it as if it’s wearing a cloak adorned with a living habitat, from the sheltered bush where they nest, through to coastal plants and down into the rich underwater environment that sustains them. This hoiho’s cloak reflects my hope that, through care and conservation, these ecosystems will remain abundant, and that viewers will feel both the beauty and the vulnerability of this rare New Zealand taonga.
