Now more than ever sustainability, or the lack thereof, is an issue at the forefront of many of our minds. It is the issue that plagues the modern world as it affects every living being on our planet from us humans down to the plankton in our oceans. As humans, we have recently come to realise that the responsibility of the health of life on earth now relies on us and our sustainability
When looking at some of the large-scale developments in human society over the past decade, one
cannot avoid but notice a concerning toxic trend: that of hardening of stances, narrowing of
positions and the appeal to anger and fear driven by self-righteous, intolerant and entitled
perspectives that see difference as a threat to identity, sovereignty and privilege. However,
embracing and promoting difference is the source of all progress. The truth of this will sink in when
thinking about that for a while. And most importantly, tolerance and the embrace of difference is
the gift that makes freedom possible because freedom is only ever as real as the freedom to be
different that is granted to all others.
Aotearoa is a Pacific Island nation coming to terms with its whakapapa. Our whakapapa includes pre-Treaty strands originating in Te Moana Nui a Kiwa² and post-Treaty strands from Europe and the rest of the globe. In 2019, Tuia 250 – Te Pōwhiri ki Wharekaho, was a singularly impactful event for bringing these strands together in celebration of our national and local identities in Pare Hauraki³.
In the world we currently live in with people disconnected to their whānau, disconnected to
their culture and struggling with identity issues and subsequent mental health problems, why
would the arts not matter?
Now more than ever sustainability, or the lack thereof, is an issue at the forefront of many of our minds. It is the issue that plagues the modern world as it affects every living being on our planet from us humans down to the plankton in our oceans. As humans, we have recently come to realise that the responsibility of the health of life on earth now relies on us and our sustainability
When looking at some of the large-scale developments in human society over the past decade, one
cannot avoid but notice a concerning toxic trend: that of hardening of stances, narrowing of
positions and the appeal to anger and fear driven by self-righteous, intolerant and entitled
perspectives that see difference as a threat to identity, sovereignty and privilege. However,
embracing and promoting difference is the source of all progress. The truth of this will sink in when
thinking about that for a while. And most importantly, tolerance and the embrace of difference is
the gift that makes freedom possible because freedom is only ever as real as the freedom to be
different that is granted to all others.
Aotearoa is a Pacific Island nation coming to terms with its whakapapa. Our whakapapa includes pre-Treaty strands originating in Te Moana Nui a Kiwa² and post-Treaty strands from Europe and the rest of the globe. In 2019, Tuia 250 – Te Pōwhiri ki Wharekaho, was a singularly impactful event for bringing these strands together in celebration of our national and local identities in Pare Hauraki³.
In the world we currently live in with people disconnected to their whānau, disconnected to
their culture and struggling with identity issues and subsequent mental health problems, why
would the arts not matter?
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