Auction
Buy a Bee, save a life
Wellington has been brought to life by Bee in the City – a public art trail featuring giant bee sculptures created by some of New Zealand’s leading artists. It’s our way of thanking the community that has given so much to us.
And on Thursday 26th November all 30 giant Bees – truly exceptional pieces of artwork painted by kiwi artists – are going under the hammer at auction to raise vital funds that help keep our Air Ambulance Planes and Westpac Chopper flying.
Whether you display it in your workplace, your garden or donate it to a worthy home, we are grateful for your support to our Bee in the City auction.
Similar sculptures from other NZ trails have sold for a few thousand dollars up to $15,000+, depending on the artwork.
About the Online Auction
Online bidding is now open ahead of the Live Auction on 26 November 2026 from 7pm.
You’re only a few steps away from bidding online and calling a Bee your own:
- Register on the Bee in the City online auction platform, managed by our event partner Wild in Art
- We’ll process your registration
- You’ll receive a confirmation email to start bidding!
Once registered, you can explore more than 30 unique Bee sculptures, choose your favourites, and start bidding online. You can also set a maximum bid and let the platform bid automatically on your behalf.
On auction night, 26 November 2026 from 7pm, log in online to watch the livestream and bid live as the auction unfolds – you don’t want to miss your chance to win your favourite Bee!
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information about the Bee in the City Charity auction we’ve put together a list of useful info below. You can also view the full Bidders Guide here.
There are 30 giant artist painted Bees, one medium artist bee and five blank medium bees up for auction.
Each Bee Lot is sold “as is” and “as seen”, and the condition of each sculpture cannot be guaranteed. It is the responsibility of all bidders to inspect sculptures before placing a bid.
All bee sculptures are made from fibreglass, are painted with an exterior Weathershield paint, and covered in an anti-graffiti varnish. The dimensions are:
Giant Bee:
- 1.4 m high x 1.8 mm. Weight 48kg (excluding plinth).
- Add 240 mm to the height if displayed on a plinth (Concrete plinths approximately 1,000kg)
Medium Bee:
- 0.8m x 0.8 mm. Weight 15kgs
Unless otherwise agreed in writing by Life Flight Trust, payment must be made either on the evening of the auction – November 26th – or within five working days of the invoice being issued.
Accepted payment methods include:
- Online bank transfer
- Visa and Mastercard credit cards
- Debit cards
- Cash
The concrete and timber plinths used to display and secure sculptures during the trail are not included as part of any Bee Lot. They are, however, available on a first-come, first-served basis in exchange for a small donation.
All bee sculptures must be collected within 10 working days of the auction unless prior arrangements have been agreed with Life Flight.
Buyers are responsible for all shipping, freight, insurance, and associated collection costs.
Life Flight can connect purchasers with recommended shipping partners if required.
