Waitangi Series

Gil Eva Craig

Photospace Gallery
1st floor, 37 Courtenay Place, Wellington

4 - 19 October 2019

Opening Friday 4 October 5 - 7pm

In Waitangi Park, central Wellington, there is an urban wetland I have been photographing over the last six years. It is near to the site of the original Waitangi lagoon, which was used for centuries by Māori for food gathering, as there were eels, fish and shellfish within it. It was also a source of fresh water, and where waka were launched into the sea.

The topography of the wetland is always changing, from a lush rippling sea of green grass through to barren dry husks and stalks. The city council come in and trim back the reeds, hoons toss empty JD premix cans into the crannies between rocks, and patches of the tall grass are regularly squashed down by human activity.