'HE PAE TAWHITI: Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua' Exhibition

Arpége Taratoa and Jera-Mae Stanley

Each star of Matariki connects to a part of te taiao (the natural environment) and to people. This in itself speaks to the connection we have as people, to the land, and the land to us. In Te Āo Māori we recognise this as whakapapa. It is common knowledge, on a global scale, that our earth is suffering. As indigeneous people, we recognise the need for humanity to collectively work towards the regrowth and healing of our environment, and each other.

This exhibition of portraiture and fashion highlights the need to look beyond western forms of cultural recognition, and look to traditions that can be applied in this day and age to heal Papatūānuku.