This image is from Takaroa, a poem by Arihia Latham (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha) visual art by Jess Hinerangi (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine) and soundscape by Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha).
Āhea | When 6pm–9pm, 15-16 June, 22-23 June, 27-30 June
Ki hea | Where Whairepo Lagoon
Te utu | Cost Free
MANA MOANA SHINES A LIGHT ON CLIMATE CHANGE THIS PUANGA MATARIKI
Mana Moana will cast stories on the water as Taranaki Whānui mark the return of Puanga in our sky. Launching at Whairepo lagoon in Pōneke for Puanga on the 15th and running each weekend through to the Matariki celebrations finishing on the 30th of June, this is Mana Moana’s sixth year in Pōneke. Co-directors Rachael Rakena (Kāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi) and Mike Bridgman (Tonga) collaborate with tangata whenua and pasifika multimedia artists to develop moving image creative intervention on the water. The films all tell different stories from across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and are brought to life with the mauri of the water screen they are projected on.
To align with the nine stars of matariki, nine short films fresh to the water will light up our lagoon.
Ngā Uki o te Mounga is an intergenerational ‘poi manu’ group from Taranaki Whānui who celebrate their 100 year anniversary. Kura Puke (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Tawhirikura) and Kurt Komene (Taranaki, Ngāti Tawhirikura), with other ahi-kaa to perform a new waiata, Tēnei Te Otinga Tū. The song, the poi, the drum, the puoro, karanga and karakia combined with the visualations of the poi-manu, and of the audio frequencies through water, brings together the energetic and rhythmic subtleties of the taiao, of the people and the teachings passed down from their tupuna. Puke states that the intention of this work is to embody and communicate the ‘reverberations of peace, connection and collective action to envisioning wellbeing for all.’
‘Takaroa’ is new poetic film written by Arihia Latham (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha), with soundscape by Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) and illustrations by Jess Hinerangi Thompson Carr (Ngāpuhi and Ngati Ruanui). Moretekorohunga Lloyd (Te Whakatōhea, Te Aupōuri) is animating and Riki Gooch Pirihi (Ngāti Wai/Ngāti Māhanga Hourua/Patuharakeke)has mastered the audio. It talks about the Kāi Tahu creation story of Takaroa the atua of the sea being the first love of the earth mother Papatūānuku. It looks at how human induced climate change causing the sea to rise, may be a future already written in the stars. Sea taniwha embody the three artists as they navigate evolving to this new future informed by the past.
‘An Activation, the Mokopuna Addition’ is a new work inspired by Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a healing framework. June Nicklin, Reuben Nicklin (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngā Tokorima a Hinemanuhiri, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) and Shannon Te Ao ( Ngāti Tūwharetoa) share a film of tamariki at the shore to centre the importance of their future in all our decisions. ‘Tino rangatiratanga will never be removed from the bones of our people’ says Nicklin, and she wants this piece to centre tangata whenua in the intergenerational healing of being te tiriti led now and in the future.
A hot new rangatahi work is ‘Te Aho Tuhura’ by Maija Stephens (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Rangi). This work is guided by Hine Turama; atua of stars and Hineteiwaiwa; atua of weaving, cycles of the moon, and childbirth. Stephens explores through them the concept of weaving light, representing the mauri or life that pulsates from both terrestrial and celestial beings.
Pasifika Voices is a collection of artistic poetry video works responding to this call of 1.5 to stay alive. Three new films were made for COP28, the UN climate change conference in Dubai last November. This is the first time they will play on the water.
Kanak /New Caledonian poet Déwé Gorodé is honoured in an important piece ‘Writing’ on the importance of the interconnectedness of our environment with our humanity. Conceived and directed by Nicolas Molé in collaboration with Paul Wamo Taneisi on sound design and music, the imagery moves between islands, mangroves, the earth and a child in utero, reminding us through the hypnotic mix of païci, french and english performed by Paul Wamo Taneisi and Lucile Bambridge that our past is a blueprint for our present and future generations.
Audrey Brown-Pereira’s poem ‘They taking pictures of us in the water’ is an example of the Pasifika community of creatives from hip hop artists, poets and dancers coming together for a common cause to raise the global consciousness on the impacts of climate change on our Pacific people.The collaboration led by Anonymouz is a call and response to Audrey’s poem. It moves from the islands to inner city waterways to the galaxies aiming to connect people on a global level to the urgency of climate change.
Cry Sis is the weaving of intellect and wisdom through the beautiful words of Rotuman poet Ruby Macomber. This film spans across untouched beaches to climate protests, turtles swimming through the moana to Macomber massaging her Aunty’s shoulders at the shore. The play on words speaks to the tears of sadness that meet the ocean in this climate crisis.
Pōneke will also premiere a new moving image work Oku Kainga Te Moana by Ōtepoti Pasifika Arts Collective speaking to a sense of belonging when that concept flows across the moana. Pip Laufiso and Dr Irene Karongo Hundleby led the project with twenty local Pasifika artists from Tokelau, Cooks Islands, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji honouring the traditions that found a home across the sea and how important it is to practice them.
Also featured for the first time is a Te Rereka o te Toroa. This collaboration is directed by Louise Pōtiki Bryant (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) with Moana Wesley (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) and Ati Teepa (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tuhoe) and Paddy Free on sound. It tells a story of how the arcing return of our largest sea bird, the Toroa (albatross) is steeped in symbology. Carving our coast line with strength and majesty, when they leave, just like the stars of our new year, they always return.
Come gather, engage in the beauty and the challenge of collective memory in action.
Mana Moana - Puanga Matariki ki Pōneke is generously supported by Wellington City Council, Creative New Zealand, SPREP and Massey University.
