Kaikoura island cows become art, fundraiser

A stark image of three cows stranded on an island created by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Kaikoura captured global attention last week.

Now, the unlikely heroes has been turned into art and is being auctioned off to raise money for the earthquake relief effort.

Auckland artist Becca Aiken has turned the island cows image into art to raise money for the Kaikoura earthquakes. Photo / Donna Aiken

Auckland-bases artist Becca Aiken, 27, has paid homage to the two heiffers and calf who were the only survivors of their large herd after land slides crumbled their paddock.

An auction of the A3-sized pencil sketch of the bovine trio on their heart shaped island has been listed on TradeMe.

Aiken's listing said the image of the island cows has "come to symbolise the isolation and destruction experienced by so many".

"Held together on a small heart shaped island, united as a family and surrounded by love. Kia Kaha - stand strong New Zealand.

All proceeds will go towards the Red Cross Earthquake Fund.

The island cows were spotted by a NewsHub crew surveying the damage to the area in a helicopter.

They were then rescued by the farm's owner, who used a pick and shovel to dig a trench for them.

The cows were three of just 14 rescued from the farm that suffered "untold" stock losses due to the earthquake.