Whenua

The relationship between tākata and whenua—people and land—is a long thread that weaves through the art history of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Beginning in Te Waipounamu, our greenstone isle, and reaching outwards, across Aotearoa and beyond to Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific, Whenua thoughtfully explores themes of identity and belonging, kaitiakitaka (guardianship), land use, migration, environmentalism, and activism through historical and contemporary artworks by more than 100 of the country’s most important artists.

A vibrant and very readable range of texts, interviews, and perspectives by leading writers—including Su Ballard, Emalani Case, Huhana Smith, Cosmo Kentish-Barnes, Lily Lee, Hana O’Regan, Rebecca Rice, Matariki Williams and many more—provides insight into the many ways that whenua is fundamental to the visual language and identity of the arts in Aotearoa New Zealand.