For Love Of the Land is a series that, as a whole, points to the neoliberal ideals that dominate contemporary global culture. Honing in on the role of hydraulic fracturing – 'fracking' - as an example of the continued colonisation of nature that exemplifies these ideals.
Kahuis' Protest
Installation at Street Level Photoworks Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland. As a winner of the Jill Todd Award.
In Aoteroa, New Zealand, signs of its colonized history are prevalent throughout the landscape. Plants introduced by European settlers, such as the irrepressible gorse and contorta pine, battle for dominance over the native species.
Greymouth Petrochem Mixing Station, Tikorangi. 400meters down the road from Tikorangi School.
'Fracking', a highly controversial method of natural gas extraction, pumps vast amounts of water, sand and chemicals into the ground at a high pressure, creating fissures in underground shale rock formations, through which natural gas is released and captured.
Tikorangi school, village hall, swimming pool and rugby pitch are all sponsored by oil and gas companies.
Tahi, Rua, Toru
During the land-grabs in the late 1800s, the Maori people ploughed the fields occupied by settlers as a demonstration of peaceful resistance. Nearly 200 years later, as I was sat in a crowded Marae (a Maori meetinghouse) near New Plymouth with over 70 other activists, their descendants asked us to “please respect and embody this spirit tomorrow”. It was through love of the land that the Maori reclaimed their rights and livelihood years ago, and it was through love of the land that Maori and Pākehā alike hoped to reclaim the rights of their land at the blockade the next day.
Maranga Mai (Wake/Rise-Up)
Nganeko Eriwata stood amongst attendees of the Petroleum Conference, wearing a crown of kawakawa leaves. Kawakawa is a medicinal plant used in traditional Maori medicine. Worn in a head wreath ('pare kawakawa') at times of mourning, it is a sign of loss
(Her placard is inspired by the artist Isaac Murdoch)
Water Is Life
Road To Taranaki
Methanex, Waitara Valley Plant, Taranaki.
The Methanex facility adjacent to the town of Waitara, and opposite the Waitara River, is a Canadian owned company. They use around 40% of NZ produced natural gas to manufacture methanol, mainly for export.
These images are meant as a wake-up call and reminder of just how much stands to be lost, if real action towards a more sustainable and environmentally focussed way of living isn't adopted soon.
Tūrangawaewae- A Place to Stand.
Sydney fishing for our dinner in the same spot his father, and his father before him had fished for their dinners.
Shell Exploration Well Site, Tikorangi.
Whakawhetai (Giving Thanks)
Fiona's Cottage
"Some nights I can see the light of the flares, an orange glow lighting up the nights sky. They'll do that when they have an excess of gas, just burn it off because it's cheaper than capturing it.”
