Art Exhibition: Bountiful Ngahere

by Tyler Florance

'Bountiful Ngahere’ is a visual ode to the vibrant flowers, fruits, and birds that adorn the ngahere: the forests of Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne and the surrounding wilderness areas of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Many of the works depict species that are deeply endemic to Aotearoa and face significant threats to their survival. Each piece begins with a personal connection—photographing and sketching species in landscapes like Zealandia while closely observing their unique behaviour and characteristics. Initial concepts are developed until a clear vision emerges, at which point the final composition is then transferred onto fine art textured paper using tracing paper, then carefully built up through layered washes of watercolour. 35% of all exhibition sales will go directly to Zealandia Ecosanctuary to support their ongoing conservation efforts in restoring our bountiful ngahere.

Tyler Florance is a bird and botanical artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara–Wellington, with a deep passion for Aotearoa’s native species, conservation, and the natural environment. His watercolour paintings reflect a strong admiration for the region’s wildlife, drawing inspiration from the rich and diverse ecologies found throughout Wellington. Rooted in personal experience, Tyler’s process involves closely observing native species in wilderness areas such as Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, enabling him to capture each bird’s unique personality with careful attention to fine detail. Through his work, he aims to deepen public appreciation for biodiversity and inspire collective action to protect Aotearoa’s natural spaces. Beyond the canvas, Tyler extends his commitment to conservation through volunteer work at Zealandia, where he has contributed to a range of projects, including annual bait station checks and nest box auditing and monitoring for kākā, kākāriki, and hihi/stitchbirds during the breeding season. In 2024, he was honoured with the Kākā Award for Outstanding Contributions, presented to volunteers who ‘have gone above and beyond and contributed an outstanding amount of time, energy, and expertise’. For Tyler, his art is not just an act of creativity, but a way of giving back to the places and species that continue to inspire him.

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