Rangatahi
A nationwide, photography project for young people, focussing on climate change.
Good storytelling can change minds. The power of a photograph lies in the way it engages our imagination and involves us in an unfolding story.
Photographers
Camilla Rutherford
Image titles:
RE-DESIGN how we make things, what happens to it at the end of its life?
RE-THINK how we produce energy.
RE-GENERATE our farms and how we produce food.
RE-CONNECT with our Papatūānuku, Mother Earth.
RE-MEMBER the people, we are all in this together. We are one.
Re-birth. What a time to be alive.
Our tamariki are going to be adults in a completely different world to the one I grew up in. We are living through the most exciting times filled with opportunity to re-think, re-design and re-connect with our Papatūānuku, Mother Earth.
I strongly believe in order to heal our earth we must all remember that we are part of nature, we are not separate from her and we can be part of her healing. Nature is not linear, nature is circular. Every part of her intricate design goes on to be re-born into something new. There is no such thing as waste in nature. We must re-learn from indigenous communities that have lived this way for centuries.
From my time here in Taranaki I have been drawn to the Maunga, like many before me. It is clear how much its Iwi respect and protect this sacred place, its Waiora waters and their gift of wellness and its symbol of peace. Taking knowledge from the elders, we can all join together to help protect and restore the land around Taranaki Maunga.
Tania Niwa
“We don’t need heroes, we just need ordinary people doing whatever they can.”
Emily Tuhi-Ao Bailey
Taranaki, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga
Location: Pungarehu, near Parihaka in coastal Taranaki.
Climate advocates Tuhi-Ao Bailey, husband Urs Signer with their tamariki Piriniki and Hoengārangi Signer are dedicated to caring for our taiao (environment). They are co-founders of Climate Justice Taranaki, which will join groups from across Aotearoa to wānanga and protest big climate polluters in South Taranaki from 3-6 November this year, during COP26 (UN Conference of Parties 26th) global climate negotiations. Tuhi-Ao supports hapū, marae and landowners with taiao monitoring and native habitat restoration. Tuhi-Ao and Urs have also helped set up community maara, food forests and tree nurseries.
“The day I became a māmā everything changed.
I’ve always had a love for our taiao and was aware of the effects climate change was having on our planet, but bringing a pēpī into the world added a sense of urgency and responsibility for my tamariki mokopuna mō āpōpō.
Tackling climate change can feel daunting & helpless. But being a māmā is like having super powers. The urge to protect is fierce and it is this energy that can be utilised to do so much good. Starting in our own homes and the choices we make when raising our tamariki.
We hear all the time, “you must teach your kids this and you must teach your kids that!” I think that’s where colonisation has done another number on us. We’ve got it back to front. Our tamariki are our greatest teachers. My two year old kōtiro is so tuned in to Te Ao Tūroa (the natural world). On windy days she will karanga ki te atua “tēnā koe Tāwhirimātea!” On sunny days when the sun is in her eyes, she calls out “neke atu Tama-nui-te-ra!” She is connected to the natural environment and talks to the elements around her just as her tūpuna did.
Ko au te whenua, ko te whenua ko au – I am the land and the land is me
It is our disconnection from Papatūānuku, our first mother, that is the cause of climate change. We need to slow down, observe and learn from our tamariki who will lead the way to a more hopeful future.
In this picture, TeRangimoeke and I are harvesting calendula to make a simple pani (ointment) to be used for small cuts & grazes. As I share the things I know about different plants and kai to grow, she is teaching me to slow down, be inquisitive and to find the beauty in all living things.”
Aroha Healion (Niwa, Taylor)Taranaki, Te Ātiawa, Ngāruahine, Ngāti RāruaLocation: Pungarehu, Taranaki
“For me connecting to our Tuakana, Tāne Mahuta, is about knowing my place and where I fit… I am the teina, my role is to listen… learn… and give back.
When we see the whenua as part of us we connect, we take care of what is dear to our heart and in return it will take care of us. Ko au ko te whenua, ko te whenua ko au” I am the land and the land is me
Marie Gregory-Hunt
Ngā Māhanga, Ngāti Tairi
Location: Pukewharangi Pā site, Te Hēnui, Ngāmtou (New Plymouth)
“I can hear the music of the harakeke speaking to me when I’m harvesting.
With the harakeke being mamae (sick) and councils using sprays right throughout the country, weavers are forced to make sure that the pā harakeke is properly cleaned to stop diseases. If you don’t care for and look after the harakeke you won’t be able to weave with it.
As for my own pā harakeke at home, I mix water with garlic and feed the roots to keep them healthy, just like my kuia did. If we don’t look after the land we are the ones who get sick. Are you listening?
Mohakahārara Taupunga Ōpunga. Even though we are different we stand united”
Mako Jones | Mahi Raranga, weaving artist
Ngāti Pāhauwera
Location: Paritutu, Ngāmotu – New Plymouth
“Once a healthy land mass of fertile land with two full fresh water awa flowing on either side of the banks, providing nature’s sustainability for the people (kaitiaki).
Today the land resembles a shadow of what used to be. Leased by settler descendants, an oil well site that impacted on te mana o te wai and in contrast, situated on the northern slope beside the Waitara awa is a native ngāhere that looks unnaturally discoloured.
