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Three Ways to Show You're a Kiwi: A Koru-Inspired Kiwiana Series

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 Few symbols are as instantly recognisable as the kiwi bird. Quiet, distinctive, and uniquely New Zealand, it’s an icon that says New Zealand without needing words.

I’ve been working on a small Kiwiana series that reinterprets the kiwi using the koru motif — a form rooted in Māori visual language, symbolising growth, renewal, and connection. The result is a set of three minimalist kiwi designs, each with a slightly different mood, but all designed to work beautifully on apparel.


🌿 The Green Koru Kiwi

Green koru kiwi bird illustration formed from flowing spiral patterns on a transparent background, inspired by New Zealand Kiwiana and Māori design.
Kiwi Design with Koru Motif in Green


The green version feels the most organic and alive. Inspired by native bush and fresh growth, this kiwi is built entirely from unfolding koru forms that follow the natural contours of the bird.

It’s a great everyday design — clean, modern, and unmistakably Kiwiana. The transparent background means it works across a wide range of shirt colours, from warm creams to deep charcoal.


🪶 The Brown Koru Kiwi

Brown koru kiwi bird illustration formed from flowing spiral patterns on a transparent background, inspired by New Zealand Kiwiana and Māori design.
Kiwi Design with Koru Motif in Brown

The brown version leans into the natural colouring of the kiwi itself. Earthy and grounded, it feels a little more heritage-inspired — perfect if you like designs that are subtle, warm, and quietly confident.

This one really shines on lighter neutrals and darker bush tones, giving it a timeless, craft-inspired feel.


⚫⚪ The Black & White Koru Kiwi

Kiwi Design with Koru Motif in Black & White

Stripped right back, the black and white version focuses purely on form and rhythm. The koru spirals become graphic and bold, making this the most versatile option of the three.

It works brilliantly on classic black or white tees, and it’s also a strong choice for stickers, notebooks, and wall art.


🇳🇿 Designed as a Set

Although each kiwi works on its own, they were designed as a cohesive trio — the same form, the same koru language, expressed in three different palettes. Whether you prefer colour, earth tones, or pure monochrome, there’s a version that fits your style.

All three designs are:

  • Minimalist and screen-print friendly

  • Created on transparent backgrounds

  • Designed with apparel in mind first


🛍️ Where to Find Them

The full koru kiwi series is available now in my Redbubble shop in the Kiwiana collection, with options across t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more.

If you’re drawn to modern Kiwiana that’s simple, wearable, and rooted in New Zealand symbolism, I think you’ll enjoy this collection.



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Do Not Disconnect - The Real Digital Divide

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The fly in the ointment, Opito Bay, around 2007. This post was originally published in November, 2007. Almost two decades on, the photograph and the argument both feel — if anything — more relevant than they did then. I have updated this post lightly in May, 2026, some 19 years later! The Photograph I was on holiday in Opito Bay on New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula, sitting on the couch in the place we were staying at. A friend's iPod was resting on the coffee table, on top of a copy of The Economist from March 2005, whose cover story happened to be titled "The Real Digital Divide." A fly landed on the iPod's click wheel and stayed there. I reached for my camera, took the shot, and edited it later in Photoshop to give it the grungy, oversaturated look you see above. The fly on the iPod along with "The Real Digital Divide" struck me — immediately, and with a kind of emb...
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