Giant Kōkopu

Giant Kōkopu - Titirangi’s Special Species

TITLE: Water is Precious, my Mokopuna

ARTIST: Anna Crichton

MEDIUM: Drawn with an old-fashioned dip pen on 200gsm, acid free, archival Waterford stock, and German Aerocolor ink.

DIMENSIONS: 460mmHx460mmW

Renowned illustrator Anna Crichton brings warmth, imagination, and quiet authority to this evocative work featuring the endangered giant kōkopu (Galaxias argenteus)—a species named for the star-like markings that shimmer across its skin. Chosen as the Special Species for Titirangi, the giant kōkopu is given a thoughtful and compelling voice through Crichton’s distinctive visual storytelling.

The illustration carries a gentle, intergenerational message: “water is precious, my mokopuna.” Through subtle anthropomorphism, a wise elder kōkopu speaks to the young—and to us—highlighting freshwater as a taonga and reminding us of our shared responsibility to protect it, without ever feeling heavy-handed.

The work reflects Crichton’s belief that illustration should tell a story rather than simply decorate. She often describes herself as a pictorial journalist, creating images that connect emotionally and linger in the mind.

Anna Crichton is a five-time winner and five-time finalist of the NZ Canon/Qantas/Voyager Media Editorial Artist of the Year Award—making this artwork both a powerful environmental statement and a rare opportunity to collect work by one of Aotearoa’s most respected illustrators.