Trekking through our native forests with his mum inspired a 10-year-old's winning artwork that will go up on billboards across the Bay of Plenty to encourage people to protect kauri trees.

The Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital group ran the Guardians of the Forest Creative Challenge recently to raise awareness of kauri trees and the importance of their protection.

Children 15 and under were encouraged to send in artwork that depicted a powerful kauri protection message.

Receiving entries from throughout NZ, Carlos Ayala from Dunedin, was named winner of the challenge – for his emotive self-portrait of him caring for a kauri seedling.

Carlos is no newcomer to knowing just how amazing these native trees are. His mother Maria Ayala is an anthropologist researching how science and mātauranga Māori are shaping New Zealand biosecurity and has taken Carlos along to numerous kauri forests throughout NZ while undertaking her doctorate studies.

Breath life

'I've learnt what the kauri bark and leaves look like and what the forest smells like – and even what the sap tastes like,” says Carlos.

Carlos made the most of the school holidays to work on his kauri inspired artwork. Photo: Maria Ayala.

Carlos has even been on an overnight Kauri quest at Trounson Kauri Park, in western Northland.

'We saw two kiwi, a stream that wasn't there during the day, eels and glowworms, and the whole forest looked and smelled different. We couldn't see the kauri trees because it was dark, but during the day we saw them dying and during the night, under the rain, they seemed to be breathing again – like magic!”

Seedlings

He was asked why he thinks it's important we look after our native Kauri giants.

'One [reason] could be that it took them ages to grow that big – we can't just watch them die.

'We can help them by cleaning our shoes, staying on the path, and taking care of their seedlings.

'Maybe one day they will grow into a new forest.”

Carlos made the most of the school holidays to work on his kauri inspired artwork. Photo: Maria Ayala.

Carlos and his mum collected kauri seeds on one of their trips, which they planted in cardboard pots and are now watching grow.

'I like it when the seedlings get rid of their seed capsules. It's like a ‘bang!' and then two little leaves appear,” says Carlos. 'It's weird to know that such a little thing can live thousands of years and grow so much.”

Carlos used one of his very own kauri seedlings to help his artwork creation. 'I put one of the seedlings on the table, and I looked at some photos to remember the colours and shapes.”

Carlos' artwork will be displayed on billboards across the BOP, with the first billboard going up from Monday, June 6.

'I hope the billboards help people to remember how fragile forests are and why everyone needs to do their part in keeping them safe,” says Carlos.