Nearly all infected kauri die and there is no confirmed treatment for the disease. When a kauri tree is infected, it develops lesions and weeps resin from its bark, in an attempt to wall off the disease - this tearful surface, a symbol of the kauri's silent cry for help

The creative idea was to find a method that would enable us to take the weeping texture of one dying kauri tree and use it as a direct expression of the kauri tree's suffering. To translate the 'tears' into sound - audibly bringing the pain to life and enable the public to hear the full-effect of dieback disease, from the diseased themselves.

The 'tears' of one dying kauri were captured within 5 pieces of video footage, using specialist equipment to ensure linear motion control.

In partnership with a Digital Audio Technician, powerful audio software was then used to create custom tools required to generate the musical score from the kauri. A visual processing engine was also adopted to exaggerate the hue of the infected areas. Patterns in the kauri ‘tears’ were identified and tracked and the data describing their changing form, mass and coordinates dictated the musical notation; determining the pitch, volume, duration and playing style.

Musicians from the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra were engaged to perform the song composed by the dying kauri, around it's base.

A campaign webpage was designed with an interactive tool that enabled the public to create their own version of the musical piece, urging them to share the track and campaign message on their social channels.

The campaign was picked up by NZ’s leading news channel. The track was played on radio stations around the country, and multiple streaming platforms - and as the kauri was the composer, all royalties went to finding a cure for dieback disease.

500,000+ people listened to the ‘A Kauri Cries' track, 4,000+ unique visitors visited the webpage and hundreds shared their version of the track. Early results suggest a 25% increase in number of individuals using the cleaning stations, with this to be confirmed in final report due end of Q2.

Minister of Parliament, Maggie Barry, shared it through her social channels, extending the reach of the campaign.

It continues to be adopted by individuals moved by the work and its message. Local Maori will screen the campaign within a series of Hui, educating the community on kauri dieback and will be performed live at The Kauri Project exhibition opening.