An integral part of the Backyard Kiwi project was creating an illustrated kiwi character which would strike a chord with people in the area. They wanted the Backyard Kiwi to pop up on billboards, bumper stickers, postcards — anywhere he could!

Heather Hunt, an Urquharts Bay-based illustrator and graphic designer, was chosen to give the project its mascot. To create lifelike kiwi which would capture the feeling of the project, Heather worked closely with Todd Hamilton, going on some enthralling kiwi hunts to observe kiwi in their natural habitat.

“Todd was my best critic in developing an illustrated kiwi character. I wanted it to be a kiwi that people could relate to and Todd wanted it to be true to kiwi. I’ve learnt heaps about how kiwi live and move, and over several months Todd and I have come up with an unique illustrated representation of a kiwi. It combines humour and integrity with Todd’s exacting and intimate knowledge about ‘real kiwi’.”

Heather managed the art direction and graphic design for the backyard kiwi project and is currently working with an author to illustrate a children’s picture book.

Link: www.heatherhunt.co.nz