Kōtuku - White Heron 2025

Water based acrylic paint on cotton canvas

No.5 of a series of 10

Individually painted using a stencil so there is a degree of variation in each of the numbered artworks.

Unframed 970mm x 670mm

Kōtuku artworks are painted on unstretched canvas.
They can hang as is, loosely on the wall with pins, or mounted on board and framed 
(There is a 7cm border allowed for framing)

Kōtuku, the White Heron, stands majestic and bright against the dark shadows of a shady creek. Paula Coulthard first saw the kōtuku in the trees near her home. Its stark white form appeared luminous against the dense, dark foliage of the riverside trees.
The kōtuku is a rare and protected species in New Zealand, with only one known nesting site in the country — Ōkārito in South Westland. Although native to New Zealand, the kōtuku is not endemic; it disperses throughout the country but returns to its single nesting ground to breed.
The bird is featured in flight on New Zealand’s $2 coin, symbolising both beauty and rarity. As noted by the Department of Conservation, “As a symbol of things both beautiful and rare, the kōtuku occupied an important place in Māori myth and folklore, and to compare a visitor to a kōtuku was a compliment of the highest order.”

Paula Coulthard's mixed media works explore the intersection of culture, history, and landscape. Blending fabric and paint, she draws inspiration from Aotearoa’s environment and bicultural heritage. Her tactile, evocative pieces reflect a deep engagement with identity, memory, and the evolving New Zealand narrative.