Copyright Mana Moana Collective
Pōneke 2024
Mana Moana Pōneke 2024
Ko te wai te ara tūhonohono i ngā iwi o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
"It is the water that connects the people of the Pacific.We should not be defined by the smallness of our islands but in the greatness of our oceans. We are the sea, we are the ocean. Oceania is us."
- Professor Epeli Hau’ofa
Join us this Puanga Matariki to remember those we have lost, to reflect on where we are through the tohu of our taiao, and to send our wishes for the future through our stories from Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, cast onto the water screen in Whairepo lagoon, Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Mana Moana Pōneke presents a programme of nine art films by Māori and Pasifika artists, fusing poetry, dance, song, painting, digital sculpture, photography, animation, music, taonga pūoro, and sound design.
Curated to premiere new mana whenua and tangata whenua stories, together with touring artworks from Mana Moana Ōtepoti and our Mana Moana Pasifika Voices 2023 series, presented at COP28 (Dubai, Dec 2023) to amplify and support the voice of the Pacific to drive global action in mitigating climate change. This series speaks to our relationships with water and oceans and the need for collective action to ensure our survival.
As we grapple with climate change, our futures will be linked in new ways. Water is connective tissue – the seas connect us all between the islands of the Pacific, Mana Moana projects its stories on these waters. Co-curated by Rachael Rakena (Ngāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi) and Mike Bridgman (Tonga, Ngāti Pākehā).
Info.
Te Whairepo Lagoon
Te Whanganui a Tara
June 15-16, 22-23, 27-30, 2024
6pm-9pm / 45 min loop
Artworks
Tēnei Te Otinga Tū
2024
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) bring this new waiata to communicate the ‘reverberations of peace, connection and collective action to envisioning wellbeing for all’.
Takaroa
2024
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). In the Kāi Tahu creation story, Takaroa the atua of the sea was first love of the earth mother Papatūānuku. It looks at how human induced climate change causing the sea to rise, maybe a future already written in the stars.
An Activation; the Mokopuna Addition
2024
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) share a film of tamariki at the shore to centre the importance of their future in all our decisions.
Te Aho Tuhura
2024
Maija Stephens (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Rangi) has created this work 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.
Cry Sis
2023
Rotuman poet Ruby Macomber weaves intellect and wisdom through the moana from climate protests to the sea turtles of her homeland. Tears are the language of the sea in this climate crisis.
Created as part of Mana Moana Pasifika Voices, a collection of video works created to amplify and support the Pacific to drive global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Oku Kainga Te Moana
2023
Ōtepoti Pasifika Arts Collective speak to a sense of belonging when that concept flows across the moana. Pip Laufiso andDr Irene Karongo Hundleby led the project with twenty local Pasifika artists to explore grief and tradition and how home can be many places.
Ēcrire / Writing
2023
Based on the poem by the late Kanak poet Déwé Gorodé, this film directed by Nicolas Molé, with Paul Wamo Taneisi on sound explores the interconnectedness of our environment with our humanity. It asks that our past be a blueprint for our present and future generations.
Created as part of Mana Moana Pasifika Voices, a collection of video works created to amplify and support the Pacific to drive global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
They Taking Pictures Of Us in The Water
2023
It takes a village to raise a child and this version of Audrey Brown-Pereira’s poem “they taking pictures of us in the water” is such 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 in the form of a call and response to Audrey’s poem is recognition of the power of music and the universal impact of Hip Hop, which in 2023 celebrates its 50th anniversary. This new version of “they taking pictures of us in the water” in the form of poetry, Hip Hop, dance and digital artistry is a creative collaboration of galaxies to connect people on a global level to the urgency of climate change. #1.5tostayalive!
Created as part of Mana Moana Pasifika Voices, a collection of video works created to amplify and support the Pacific to drive global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Te Rereka o te Toroa
2023
Louise Pōtiki Bryant (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) with Moana Wesley (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) and Ati Teepa (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tuhoe) tells a story of returning to the home of your tīpuna and how the Toroa (albatross) is steeped in symbolism. Carving our coast line with strength and majesty, when they leave, just like the stars of our new year, they always return.