Wild Wellington at heart of artist’s cover-art inspiration – News and information

The mother-of-three and former Island Bay School art teacher says her art usually revolves around “anything botanical” – a passion that was passed down to her by her father.

“My dad used to teach me about everything flora and fauna. Dad loved his garden. He would tell you the names of everything when walking through the Botanic Garden and now I do the same with my kids!”

Carrie, a Kilbirnie resident and reliever teacher, says Zealandia is a special place where she would spend a lot of time when her children were younger.

“I always take photos when I go on bush walks. The image I’ve used in my screen print was taken off the beaten track in Zealandia, beyond the main path.

“There’s amazing bush at Zealandia. My old home in Island Bay, we had kākā landing on the deck. That’s the difference Zealandia has made to Wellington, and all the natives that have been planted around the city have made a difference too.”

Carrie can take some credit for the increase in native plantings.

She spent 21 years living in Island Bay, on a large section which backed onto the Town Belt. She and her husband took part in the Council’s planting programme, in which the Council provides free native plants for volunteers and community groups to plant on public land to improve Wellington’s environment.

She believes the Town Belt is Wellington’s best kept secret, and says she still feels like she is part of the Island Bay community, being one of the organisers for the Island Bay Festival.

Now the family lives in Kilbirnie, where they moved late last year, and Carrie’s husband is a big fan of the new bike routes, commuting to his city job by taking the paths alongside Cobham Drive and beyond around the bays.