“The oldest known fossil remains of the Galaxiidae commonly known as our New Zealand Whitebait was found at Foulden Maar near Middlemarch in Central Otago. 

A Maar is a volcanic crater often filled with water to form a lake. Foulden Maar, an extinct lake, has been dated at 23 million years old in the early Miocene epoch -  and has revealed remarkedly intact fossil flora and fauna of that time. New Zealand then was predominantly under water and consisted of 4 islands not much bigger than Central Otago as we know it today. Our present day Galaxiidae is a direct descendant of this fish.

Akeake is a common native shrub or tree found in most places in New Zealand. Akeake is a Maori word meaning forever forever and refers to the tough resilient nature of the wood. The tree is found in a green and purple variet, the purple being a cultivar discovered in the Wairau Valley, Blenheim, in the late 1800`s. 

I have used the green and purple varieties to form the 2 sides of the Medallion. The Galaxiidae is attached to this branch in a manner reflecting the longevity and resilience of these two life forms. 

Forever Forever.”