Colonialism, Confrontation — And Coming Together
Is a director of photography for film, documentary and music videos. His photography archives feature many historic protest images from the last 15 years. He writes about confrontation and coming together, through his lens.
Inset right: Wai Maranga Mai Hokianga, drawing attention to the ongoing pollution of Hokiangawhakapau-karakia, Feb 6, 2019.
Return The Land / Protect Ihumatao. The occupation of stolen whenua at Ihumatao brought together thousands from around Aotearoa and drew attention from around the world; Aug 29 ,2019.
Below: End Colonial Violence. Thousands gather under the banner of ‘Love Aotearoa Hate Racism’ and march through the streets of Auckland after the Christchurch Terrorist attack, March 24, 2019.
The history of protest in Aotearoa for the past 50 years, has been synonymous with kaupapa Māori — such as land rights, language revival, tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) and environmental protection but has too often been expressed in the media as Māori versus Pākehā.
In the 1980s to early 2000s these occasions often escalated to confrontation and the butting of heads with racist opposition, including police, sometimes quite literally. Over the last decade, through my lens, it’s clear things have started to change as Māori have begun to make headway against a colonial system.
There is still a long way to go to restore the balance for tangata whenua but now we are seeing more Pākehā and tauiwi coming together to stand alongside Māori, addressing issues that face all New Zealanders.
This can only continue to progress positively as more of this country’s history is taught in schools and the next generations grow up knowing the true history of Aotearoa.