Panel Discussion | Why Wai Action?

Join artists, writers and regenerative practitioners in conversation responding to Olafur Eliasson's exhibition and on water action in Aotearoa. From important projects to current research, explore we what’s being done – and what still needs to be achieved – in this critical field.

Panellists include artists Tia Barret,  Simon Ingram and Janine Randerson, and Policy Director of the Toha Network David Hall. This panel is chaired by Zara Stanhope, Director at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre.

Tia Barrett

Tia Barrett (Ngāi Tahu, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a Kirikiriroa-based artist predominantly working in lens-based practice. She is influenced by a desire to connect with the whenua (land) me ō ngā tūpuna (ancestors) through a Te Ao Māori perspective. Additionally, she incorporates the art of mōteatea (sung Māori poetry) as yet another layer of storytelling in her work, which invokes the revitalisation of the Māori language within her whānau. Tia is the 2023 Te Tumu Toi, Arts Foundation Springboard recipient, has a master's in visual arts and is now studying towards her PhD with AUT. Her latest moving image work, Rangiwhakahaere: Controller of the Skies! (2025) and He Pounamu Ko Āu (2022) are showing alongside each other at Plomacy in Auckland. Although both works have different focuses, they still capture and explore habitual Indigenous storytelling, restorative whakapapa (genealogy) connection, and awaking mauri (life force) through contemporary creative practice.  

David Hall

Dr David Hall is Policy Director of the Toha Network, which is developing digital infrastructure in service to nature and climate action. He is also Senior Lecturer in Climate Action at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). He works between political theory and practice to contribute to sustainability transitions in Aotearoa and globally.

Simon Ingram

In painting and electronic art, Dr Simon Ingram brings different nature-culture relationships to light. His experimental painting practice develops a dialogue between humans and technological processes. His environmental artwork creates awareness of natural systems through science-based monitoring and visualisation. He has exhibited widely, including at PS1 MoMA, Center for Art and Media ZKM, and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, is MFA Manutaki at Elam Te Waka Tūhura, member of the Oversight Board for the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (CAST), and has shown with Gow Langsford Gallery since 2008.

Janine Randerson

Dr Janine Randerson is an artist and writer living in Aotearoa New Zealand. She often makes, writes or facilitates creative works in collaboration with community groups and environmental scientists from urban meteorologists to glaciologists. She has been engaged as a curator for the contemporary art space Te Tuhi (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland) for events, performances and artworks to foreground the heating climate for the World Weather Network. She has curated screening programs with Social media / website links CIRCUIT: Artist Film and Video Aotearoa New Zealand. Janine’s book “Weather as Medium: Toward a Meteorological Art” (MIT Press, 2018) focuses on modern and contemporary artists who engage with our present and future weathers.

Zara Stanhope

Zara Stanhope is a curator and writer connecting publics with artists across the global south. She is currently the director of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Foundation, and has previously held roles as curatorial manager, Asian and Pacific Art at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and principal curator at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, amongst others. She recently led the 9th and 10th Asia Pacific Triennials at QAGOMA (2018, 2021); initiated QAGOMA’s Asia Pacific Art Papers (2021–22); curated Unfinished Business: The art of Gordon Bennett with Abigail Bernal at QAGOMA in 2020; and was lead curator for Dane Mitchell’s Post hoc for New Zealand at La Biennale di Venezia in 2019. She writes regularly for art catalogues and journals and has been the commissioning editor of books including Ann Shelton: Dark Matter (Auckland Art Gallery) and The Māori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer’s New Zealand, co-edited with Ngahiraka Mason (Auckland University Press and Auckland Art Gallery).