The Water Project Research trip
In March 2017, together with Shirin Khosraviani, AAG director and curator of the exhibition, we spent a week in the central South Island region. The journey south from Christchurch across the plains and into the Mackenzie Country offered not only vistas of immense beauty and powerful iconic impact, but also led us to a sobering awareness of the vexed and potentially catastrophic situation currently facing our country’s waterways. Engaging with local people, iwi, conservationists and others during the journey, we were brought to a new awareness of the contested politics underlying the demands for freshwater use and allocation, as well as a renewed appreciation for wairua – the spirit of fresh water.
Rakaia River
Kate, Rakaia River
Opuha irrigation lake
Greg & Jenna, Mackenzie Country
Ross Hemera
Ko Te Waka-o-Aoraki, Ko Te Waipounamu
Ko Aoraki te mauka
Ko Waitaki te awa
Ko Uruao, Araiteuru ngā waka
Ko Whakatū, Whitianga, Matakaea ngā Tauranga
Ko Rākaihautū, Kirikiri Patata ngā tipuna
Ko Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe, Ngāi Tahu ngā iwi
Lake Ohau
Ross Hemera & Mike Neilson, Lake Ohau Lodge
Jenna & Liz, Paritea (clay cliffs near Omarama)
Bing & Jacqs, Maraewhenua rock art site
Takiroa rock art site
Kate White, Waitaki Braids Lodge, Kurow
Barista Peter Trevelyan, Kate White’s Waitaki Braids Lodge, Kurow
Maraewhenua River
Phil, Maraewhenua River, 30sec video
Ross, Brett & Phil
Kate & Shirin
Ross & Phil’s jam, Geraldine, 30sec video
Temuka River visit with manawhenua, 30sec video
Triumphant agate fossickers return with guide Karen Palmer, Staveley
Sculptors with Alford Forest moa
Greg & Peter
Bruce & Brett