Huia Gonna Call
The only call this Huia is making... is a wake-up one.
Before Metalbird took flight, there was just Phil and a sketch of a bird — and that very first Huia he made? It was holding a smartphone. A cheeky, slightly confronting symbol of the things we overlook when we’re not paying attention — and a reminder that some things, like the Huia itself, can’t be brought back once they’re gone.
As the first release in our Legacy Collection, the Huia with Smartphone puts a modern spin on a timeless tragedy — pairing extinct beauty with 21st-century irony. It’s the perfect gift for opinionated uncles, social scrollers, nature lovers... or anyone who can laugh at themselves and feel something while doing it.
✓ Uniquely sized – 22 cm high × 34 cm wide, approx. 300 g
✓ Locally made – Cut and crafted in a family-owned NZ factory
✓ Iconic silhouette – A modern twist on the most symbolic extinct bird
✓ Crafted to endure – Made from 3 mm Corten® steel that weathers naturally
✓ Easy to gift – Ships flat in an A4 presentation box (31 cm × 21 cm × 1 cm)
✓ Quick dispatch – Weekday orders before 2 pm ship same day
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Huia Gonna Call
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Each Metalbird is crafted from Corten® Steel, a premium, weathering steel made to last.
When it meets the elements, it doesn’t rust like your old BBQ. It transforms.
That change you’re seeing? That’s patina. A tough, protective outer layer that seals the steel, adds character, and preserves your bird for decades.
This isn’t paint. It’s nature’s way of ageing gracefully.
The Patina Process:
At first, you’ll notice bright orange spots (we call this the teenage phase). Soon enough, the whole bird will turn a bold orange, slowly shifting into deep burnt umber. Eventually, it settles into a moody charcoal that feels like it’s always belonged.
The Result? A piece of industrial art with a heartbeat. No peeling, no fading, just a bird that gets better with age.
what’s the word on the bird?
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