Part two of emerging Māori moving image practitioner and photographer Tia Barrett’s project Tūhononga (Cluster and Connection) is now live online as a contribution to the participation of artists from around Te Moana Nui a Kiwa in the World Weather Network – a world-wide project in response to the global climate emergency.

Coinciding with Whīro, the new moon on 9 April 2024, Tia Barrett (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tamainupō) launched Tūhononga Wairewa Roto (Connection to Wairewa Lake, and land), as the second phase in her project Tūhononga (Cluster and Connection) having engaged in noho wānanga (meeting/discussions) on ancestral land throughout the summer documenting the climate crisis in Wairewa Roto (Lake Forsyth) in Te Wai Pounamu (South Island of New Zealand).

Tia Barrett’s observational learning journey began in Te Waipounamu (South Island of New Zealand) in 2023 with a collective Hikoi (walk) from Waitaki to Aoraki. The essence of the environment —the appearances, sensations, and sounds of specific moments and weathers significant to her during the hikoi were recorded, resulting in Tūhononga Hikoi Tāngata (Peoples Walking Connection), the first phase of the project which was launched online to coincide with Turu, the full moon on 27 November 2023.

Through walks, videos, and community dialogues across both phases of the project, Barrett explored the question: "what pūrākau (stories) from our past can we draw upon to benefit the future of our whenua (land)? And how can toi Māori (Māori arts) serve as a means to translate this message into action?"

The two-part artwork, Tūhononga (Cluster and Connection), can now be viewed online here.

This project forms the eighth weather report from Te Tuhi’s Te Moana Nui ā Kiwa weather station Huarere: Weather Eye, Weather Ear, part of the global World Weather Network.

Ngā mihi nui to Paemanu Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts for the organization of the hikoi (walk) and providing the artist residency opportunity.

To view Tūhononga (Cluster and Connection) click here

To read more about Tia’s project, Tūhononga (Cluster and Connection) click here

To view Huarere: Weather Eye, Weather Ear click here

To read more about the global World Weather Network click here