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Otago Daily Times
05-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Photographers make finals
Oamaru's photographic talent came into sharp focus at Otago's largest nature photography competition at the Tūhura Otago Museum in Dunedin last week. The exhibition of photographs, titled "Otago's Lens on the Wild World", opened last week and runs until October 12 in the museum's special exhibitions gallery. More than 4450 entries were submitted across Otago, and finalists included Oamaru photographers Tom Davies and Gary Speer. Mr Davies had four images chosen from the wildlife, botanical and natural abstract categories, while Mr Speer had two images selected as finalists in the exhibition, which celebrates the region's biodiversity and creativity. Mr Davies said it was an honour and a shock to be recognised by the museum. "It came as quite a surprise, especially knowing how rich and diverse the talent pool is in New Zealand. "Now that the shock has worn off, I feel deeply grateful that I get to live in a part of the world as beautiful as Otago and how lucky we are to have all this on our doorstep," he said. Tūhura Otago Museum marketing manager Charlie Buchan said it was a "huge achievement" for both photographers to be chosen as finalists. Their entries included stunning photographs of fungi, flowers and Oamaru's local wildlife, showcasing the breadth and creativity of nature photography coming out of the North Otago region, Mr Buchan said. Oamaru made a strong impression with a significant number of standout entries, he said. "It highlights the town's growing reputation as a hub for amateur photographers inspired by the wild beauty of their local environment. "The exhibition brings together the best of what our region sees every day, through the lenses of people who really care about the natural world around them," Mr Buchan said. The 2025 Tūhura Otago Museum Photographer of the Year was won by Sam McGee, 17, of Dunedin, for his entry, Water Wings. He also won the wildlife youth section.
Otago Daily Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
The whare that travelled the globe
The little-known story of the Mataatua Whare will be brought to life by the music of Dame Gillian Whitehead, the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and soloists Tomairangi Henare, Paul Whelan and Rebecca Ryan this weekend. Rebecca Fox talks to Dame Gillian Whitehead and baritone Tomairangi Henare about the premiere of The Journey of Mataatua Whare. One hundred years ago the Mataatua Whare returned to New Zealand. The traditional carved meeting house was sent to Dunedin for the 1925 Great Exhibition from London where it had languished for 40 years in the basement of what became the Albert and Victoria Museum. It had originally been built in Whakatāne by several North Island Māori tribes as a symbol of unity and was richly decorated with woven wall panels and carvings of ancestors and named Mataatua Wharenui (The House of Mataatua) after the name of their ancestral waka. However, five years after its opening the government dismantled it and sent it to Sydney via steamship for the 1879 International Exhibition. It then travelled to Melbourne for its exhibition before being sent to London and put on display for a few years. It was re-erected in 1924-25 for the Wembley Exhibition and then put back into storage. After the Great Exhibition in Dunedin it was given to Otago Museum, on permanent loan from the government, which re-erected it, in truncated form. It stayed there for 70 years until it was returned to the descendants of the original tribes in 1996 and later restored. The story was brought to composer Dame Gillian Whitehead's attention by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster Tessa Petersen, who discovered it while looking into the Great Exhibition. Dame Gillian found it fascinating so the pair visited Ngāti Awa to consult with it about using the story in a piece for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra to celebrate Matariki. Petersen researched the music of the time and found marches played at the various exhibitions, which Dame Gillian has incorporated into her score. Dame Gillian (Ngāi Te Rangi and Tuhoe) also did a lot of research into the story that helped inform the composition, including the situation New Zealand found itself in after World War 1, with illness and the confiscation of lands. "We've told the story in chronological order because it's an important story as part of our country's history, and it's a story that a lot of people just know a part of." They start with the building of the whare and the "incredible journeys" it made follow on. "It was supposed to be away for six months and yet it didn't come back until 70-odd years later." To tell the story, Dame Gillian has included three vocalists, those roles to be performed in the premiere by Tomairangi Henare, Paul Whelan and Rebecca Ryan. "One is a baritone, who represents Māori. One is a bass, who represents Pākehā. And there's a soprano, who is the voice and the presence of the house. So she sings from the perspective of the house, as it goes through its various manifestations, situations. "The bass also plays a couple of specific roles, as the government representative, who wants to take the house to Sydney. And the judge of the Waitangi Tribunal." The baritone role performed by Henare (Ngāti Kahungunu), as the voice of Māori, is often a lament for what is happening, as Ngāti Awa wanted the whare back but did not have the resources to do that. For Henare, who will be singing in Dunedin for the first time, the piece resonates — especially as he had not heard the story before and found it fascinating and "mind-boggling". "As a tangata whenua myself, I think it's important to protect our culture and to preserve it and present it as Māori people intend it to be presented, and show that respect that is needed, for it to still resonate with people, for the tipuna to resonate with us." To prepare for the piece, Henare, who is Hamilton-based, has been doing a lot of "note bashing" but also a lot of speaking and rhythm. "That's a big thing for me, because singers already are pretty notoriously bad at rhythm. So I think that extra work and that extra attention to detail is really important for me." Performing a work for the first time, it is important to respect it, he says. It is always exciting to perform a new composition that has not been marred by tradition or touched by other performers. Normally he would listen to other recordings of a performance as part of his preparation. "Hopefully, I can make it my own while also paying respect to the composer, to Gillian. So, maybe somewhere down the line, if anyone else is performing this, then I'll be a reference, which is something that's actually really nerve-racking to think about." It is another step in his career, which began in the small North Island town of Nuhaka where he found his love of performing through kapa haka and church choirs. It was not until he became involved in Project Prima Volta, a youth initiative in Hawke's Bay, that he discovered opera. He was 15 when he performed in his first opera having never seen one before. "I just fell in love with opera. It was an amazing community. I found a lot of my closest friends there, found my partner there and we've been together since." Henare, who plays guitar and video games in his spare time, loves the larger-than-life aspects of an opera production and the challenges of embodying a character through singing, acting and moving. He went on to study singing and composition at Victoria University and is now studying for his masters in advanced opera in Hamilton. While Henare loves the drama of opera, for Dame Gillian her new work is her first dramatic piece with orchestra and multiple soloists. Coincidentally, however, Wellington Opera is next month also premiering her chamber opera, Mate Ururoa , which tells the story of Māori Gallipoli soldier Captain Roger Dansey, one of first contingent of Māori allowed to go overseas to fight. He was sent home for disobeying orders. He went on to recruit the pioneer battalion, which was to become the Māori Battalion in World War 2. It is to be performed in Māori and English. Originally planned to premiere in 2021 at New York's Carnegie Hall, it was cancelled due to the pandemic. It also turns out that when the Mataatua Whare was rediscovered in London, Dansey was one of the people sent to attest to its quality before it was sent home. "It's funny how the two things are happening at a similar time," Dame Gillian says. "He's not in the other piece but there is a picture of him. He's in a photo, which I thought was quite interesting. " Alongside the performance a multi-media presentation will screen showing the whare over its history, which will first be presented to Ngāti Awa in Whakatāne before the premiere. Brahms & Mataatua: A Journey in Music, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, June 28, 7.30pm Dunedin Town Hall.
Otago Daily Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Cultures on show at Matariki event
Dancers become a blur of colour as the Clutha Filipino Society celebrates the fellowship of Pacific peoples during last year's Matariki event in Balclutha. PHOTO: NICK BROOK Clutha is celebrating Matariki in style next Thursday, giving South Otago people the opportunity to take a deep dive into the district's diverse cultures. The Puaka Matariki Iwikatea Cultural Celebration takes place at Te Pou Ō Mata-Au/Clutha District War Memorial community centre in Balclutha from 10am to 8pm next Thursday, comprising performances, feasting and workshops for all ages. Event spokeswoman Tiffany Jenks said organisers wanted to build on the success of last year's inaugural event, which had exceeded expectations. "We had so many people turn up last year, which was fantastic. We've changed the format slightly this year, replacing the market with a series of workshops showcasing and teaching traditional Māori cultural practices, so we hope this will be even more engaging for everyone who comes along." Workshops included taiaha/rākau combat/ceremonial techniques; Otago Museum's interactive star dome; harakeke (flax) weaving; toki (tool/ornament) making; Māori instrument playing; rongoā Māori medicinal plant use; and ngā taonga tākaro (Māori games). They would run between 3pm and 5pm. Spaces were limited, meaning interest should be registered early. "We're very excited to have the expertise from seven fabulous tutors at the Puaka Matariki event this year, and hope as many people as possible get the chance to take part." A Puaka Matariki arts and crafts competition was also running in parallel with the event, open to those 18 years old and under. The day would celebrate all cultures which had stepped up to take part. "The event is aimed at fostering a sense of community and inclusion and to provide a platform of local artists, performers and cultural groups to showcase their talents and heritage. "Alongside our Māori workshops and kapa haka from some of our local schools, we have representatives of our Filipino, Pasifika and Kiribati communities performing live for audiences. "We're looking forward to seeing everybody out together for this winter celebration."
Otago Daily Times
26-04-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Waitaki geopark feature of wild festival
Waitaki Whitestone Geopark geoscientist Sasha Morriss speaks during the 7×7 Wild Talks event for the Wild Dunedin — New Zealand Festival of Nature. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The 10th annual Wild Dunedin New Zealand Festival of Nature had a North Otago flavour with the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark featuring in the 12-day festival. The festival began on April 10 with the 7×7 Wild Talks event at the Otago Museum. Geoscientist Sasha Morriss, on behalf of the Unesco Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, was one of seven invited speakers to the 2025 theme of geology. Mrs Morriss said it was great for the geopark to be invited. "It was a great opportunity to speak to a wider audience, the auditorium itself was packed. "We really enjoy being a part of these bigger events and telling people the stories of the geopark. "It was nice to also talk in Dunedin, where people can come visit for a day." She outlined the journey to formalise the geopark and how it can be a platform to tell stories. "While geoparks are based on geology of international significance, they are a platform for many, many other stories to be told." Vanished World was also included in the festival with a display at the Nature Dome at Forsyth Barr Stadium last weekend. The festival concluded this week.
Otago Daily Times
26-04-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Festival features geopark
Waitaki Whitestone Geopark geoscientist Sasha Morriss speaks during the 7×7 Wild Talks event for the Wild Dunedin — New Zealand Festival of Nature. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The 10th annual Wild Dunedin New Zealand Festival of Nature had a North Otago flavour with the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark featuring in the 12-day festival. The festival began on April 10 with the 7×7 Wild Talks event at the Otago Museum. Geoscientist Sasha Morriss, on behalf of the Unesco Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, was one of seven invited speakers to the 2025 theme of geology. Mrs Morriss said it was great for the geopark to be invited. "It was a great opportunity to speak to a wider audience, the auditorium itself was packed. "We really enjoy being a part of these bigger events and telling people the stories of the geopark. "It was nice to also talk in Dunedin, where people can come visit for a day." She outlined the journey to formalise the geopark and how it can be a platform to tell stories. "While geoparks are based on geology of international significance, they are a platform for many, many other stories to be told." Vanished World was also included in the festival with a display at the Nature Dome at Forsyth Barr Stadium last weekend. The festival concluded this week.
