Home 9 Exhibition 9 Shorebirds of the Tāmaki Estuary

Shorebirds of the Tāmaki Estuary

Exhibition: May 9, 2026 -
October 3, 2026

Artist: Shaun Lee

This exhibition is located in the concourse.

Shaun Lee is a designer dedicated to the ecological restoration of the Tāmaki Estuary. Through his photography, restoration projects, and advocacy, he volunteers to protect tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) and other shorebirds and seabirds. Lee organises the local wader census, quantifying shorebird decline to directly influence council planning. He played a pivotal role in reducing the development of Ōmaru (Point England Reserve), a key breeding, roosting, and feeding site, and has actively restored habitat at Tahuna Torea and Panmure. Despite these hard-won victories, he is losing the battle to save shorebirds in the Tāmaki Estuary.

Shaun Lee on Shorebirds of the Tāmaki Estuary – Interview

Meet the designer behind the Shorebirds of the Tāmaki Estuary exhibition. Hear some insight into Lee’s background, his journey into conservation and the challenges facing the shorebirds in the Tāmaki Estuary.

Interview with Designer Shaun Lee

This exhibition is sponsored by Tāmaki Estuary Protection Society.

The TEPS is an incorporated society and registered charity whose members are committed to improving the waterways, and shorelines of the Tāmaki Estuary, and protecting and enhancing the habitat for local native wildlife.