A recent graduate of EIT's Master of Professional Creative Practice has put the final feathers on Hawke's Bay's dedicated Air Ambulance, operated by Skyline Aviation.
Artist Tim Whaitiri-Henderson, with the supporting supervision of Chris Bryant-Toi from EIT's IDEAschool, was tasked with designing a livery on Skyline Aviation's newly relaunched B200C Air Ambulance ZK-PLK.
The design reflects its Māori name 'Te Manu Atawhai' as a 'bird of care' that will take to the sky in about 2000 missions annually.
It recalls the narrative of the Pacific ancestor, Māui and the kōkako bird.
According to traditional Māori narratives, the kōkako filled its blue wattles with water to provide relief to Māui while he fought with the sun, Tama-nui-te-rā.