Life Flight

Wellington will be buzzing in 2026 when Life Flight Trust unveils Bee in the City presented by Mills Albert – a spectacular public art trail that brings the community together through creativity while raising vital funds for New Zealand’s life-saving air ambulance services.

Published 10th November 2025

Bee in the City is shaping up to be one of Wellington’s most ambitious and family-friendly events next Spring. The eight-week trail will end with an auction of the stunning sculptures, with proceeds supporting Life Flight’s critical missions nationwide.

Following the success of international Wild in Art trails such as Whale Tails in Auckland and Elmer’s Ōtautahi Elephant Trail in Christchurch, Life Flight has partnered with Wild in Art to create a trail of more than 30 giant bee sculptures. Each will be uniquely designed by a professional artist and generously sponsored by local businesses.

The colourful artworks will appear in key locations across Wellington, offering a free and accessible walking trail that invites adults, children and visitors to explore the city on foot, enjoy the outdoors, and experience art in a fun and interactive way.

The Bee in the City launch was held this week at Westpac HQ, where guests got a sneak peek at the smaller ‘learner’ bees that will soon visit participating schools across the Wellington region as part of the Bee in the City education programme.

A nationwide call will soon invite artists to submit bee designs for the trail. A judging panel will shortlist entries, and sponsors will select their preferred designs to commission. Successful artists will be paid for their work, ensuring high-quality, engaging and memorable sculptures.

At the end of the trail, all sculptures will gather for a farewell weekend before a high-profile auction night where each original artwork will be sold to raise funds for Life Flight Trust. All proceeds, after costs, will directly support Life Flight’s air ambulance services across New Zealand.

Life Flight’s Head of Fundraising, Sebastian Grodd, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Mills Albert Bee in the City to Wellington. The trail has wide appeal and offers huge benefits – not just for Life Flight, but for artists, schools, businesses, and the wider community. With the support of our amazing city, we’re confident 2026’s trail will be a spectacular success.”

Join the buzz

Life Flight is seeking more sponsors to help bring Bee in the City to life. Sponsorship offers a unique chance to support New Zealand’s life-saving air ambulance service, connect with the community and see your brand featured on one of the trail’s iconic bee sculptures.

Life Flight thanks its generous sponsors to date – including presenting partner Mills Albert Limited, Wellington City Council, Westpac, Dulux, Enormous Crocodile Co, Bastion Security, Wellington Airport, Old Bank Arcade, and Hnry.