The themes of Water and Peace follow on from our engagement with tangata whenua, in particular the inspirational Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru ONZM, Ahorangi of Te Matahiapo Indigenous Research Organisation. He first emphasised Wai – water or flow – at the ‘SCANZ 2011: Eco sapiens’ hui at Owae Marae. Several projects ensued – in Istanbul, Albuquerque, Auckland and New Plymouth. After visiting Parihaka as part of ‘SCANZ 2013: 3rd nature,’ in discussion with Inahaa Te Urutahi Waikerepuru we developed the themes of water and peace for SCANZ 2015, as a means to bring artists together with the Parihaka community. There is also a World Indigenous Forum on Water and Peace, with Dr Waikerepuru as Aotearoa representative.

The theme of Power can be interpreted in many ways. For Māori there are multiple senses of meaning, to be explored as years go by. Taranaki is sometimes referred to as an ‘energy province’ so the concept of Power has further multiple meanings. For Intercreate, we intend exploring multiple meanings at each new biennial event.

River Resonations by Trudy Lane

The black box created by the artist was able to detect GPS located voices, which were variably received.

On Sunday February 8th, Trudy Lane led a project in Tupare Gardens whereby voices were located in the landscape, reflecting on the many different relationships people have to the Waiwhakaiho river.

Participants held the boxes and located the voices connected to certain locations in the gardens.

A wide range of perspectives on the Waiwhakaiho River were folded into the project.

Ngā mihi nui / a huge thanks to: Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, Glen Skipper, Vince Neall, Renate Verbrugge, Gary Bedford, Mary Matthews, Greg Skipper, Tom Phillips, Wayne Peters, Craig Knowles, Keith and Eve Rowlands, Myree Dravitzki, Jim Tucker, David Lean, Jason Matthews, Wayne Arthur, Jarred Hancox. Thanks to: Ian Clothier, Kura Puke, Sharmila Samant, Anand Rose, Tom Phillips, Charlotte Šunde, Alys Longley, Laurence Šunde and Deon Roodt.