Pīngao

In this namesake piece, Anna Hayes-Moeau celebrates Pīngao, the highly prized "golden sand sedge" plant of Aotearoa. 

Once abundant across coastal dunes, this plant has faced a dramatic decline, making restoration efforts and sustainable cultivation like the healthy, long-leaved plants grown on the artist's own land in Wairoa vital to the survival of traditional weaving.

The panel’s striking bell shape is a natural result of the Pīngao leaf's unique anatomy, which tapers from a wide base to a very narrow tip. Woven in the universal Takitahi pattern (over one, under one), the work symbolises our shared connectedness with all cultures.

The vibrant, golden brilliance of the dried fiber serves as a testament to the resilience of the land and the enduring legacy of Māori craftsmanship.

Framed in a sleek black shadow box, Pīngao is a significant sculptural work that honours both the botanical heritage of Northern Hawke’s Bay and the universal threads of human connection.