Wastelands is an exhibition by Brett Graham (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Tainui), currently on at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
The exhibition is presenting one of Graham’s most powerful sculptural works, Wastelands, commissioned as a response to works of his father Fred Graham’s in the 1970s for the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024, alongside a new video work, Whangamārino, a panorama of footage documenting a fire raging across the Whangamārino wetlands, which shares the same locational subject as the sculptural work it displays itself with.
The works address the rich history of this area and resulting degradation – continuing an interest in Graham’s practice in the impact of Pākehā settlement and colonisation on tangata whenua and te taiao. Where Waikato-Tainui lands were once abundant in resources and other taonga, the wetlands were confiscated by the colonial government following the 1863-64 Waikato War, through the Waste Lands Act 1858 and New Zealand Settlements Act 1863, and sold as pasture.
Being the first time Wastelands has been exhibited in Aotearoa, the exhibition shows Graham bringing to life his vision for installation, inviting the viewer into a powerful, ominous, and almost haunting environment.
Sofia had a kōrero with Brett Graham about the making of Wastelands.
Lucia is joined by heavy-hitting duo TOOMS in the bFM studio for a hyuuuge session on Friday Live ahead of their gig at Ramen Club. Brought to you by NZ On Air Music, with thanks to McLeod's Brewery.
Lucia returns for a guest show before she jets off overseas! Featuring local heavy-hitting punk duo TOOMS on Friday Live, brought to you by NZ On Air Music, with thanks to McLeod's Brewery.
Promoters in Auckland’s independent music scene have been “shocked” after Auckland Council has started taking enforcement action against gig posters in the CBD.
These posters are often self designed and self printed by promoters in order to ensure that there is a high level of engagement in Auckland’s independent music scene which has often been described as the “lifeblood” of the CBD.
However, the council has been receiving an increased amount of complaints about posters and has cited the signs bylaw as reason enough to take this enforcement action.
They have also been told that promoters can pay to use advertising space and use social media to advertise their gigs.
Producer Sanat wanted to understand how the community was feeling about this action and whether the alternatives posed by council are actually feasible, so he spoke to promoter Lara Marie about gig postering in the CBD.
There have been reports recently that indie promoters across the city have been told to immediately cease postering in the city by Auckland Council.
Auckland Council has cited a higher number of complaints and their signs bylaw which technically makes these posters promoting indie gigs illegal. However, an informal arrangement between both parties meant that enforcement action was rarely taken
At the same time Auckland is a UNESCO city of music with the city’s independent music scene being renowned globally, so today I wanted to ask Councilor Shane Henderson about Auckland Council’s rationale and see why they have suddenly changed their approach when it comes to gig posters.
There has also recently been some commentary from Auckland Business Chamber head Simon Bridges about the state of Auckland’s regional economy.
He wants the central government to renew investment to stimulate the economy and extend a helping hand to struggling industries. At the same time regional economies in the South Island seem to be showing signs of economic recovery while Auckland still contends with the country’s highest unemployment rate.
So I asked Councilor Shane Henderson about how Auckland Council can stimulate that growth and how that growth can have equitable benefits across the entire city.
There have been reports recently that indie promoters across the city have been told to immediately cease postering in the city by Auckland Council.
Auckland Council has cited a higher number of complaints and their signs bylaw which technically makes these posters promoting indie gigs illegal. However, an informal arrangement between both parties meant that enforcement action was rarely taken
At the same time Auckland is a UNESCO city of music with the city’s independent music scene being renowned globally, so today I wanted to ask Councilor Shane Henderson about Auckland Council’s rationale and see why they have suddenly changed their approach when it comes to gig posters.
There has also recently been some commentary from Auckland Business Chamber head Simon Bridges about the state of Auckland’s regional economy.
He wants the central government to renew investment to stimulate the economy and extend a helping hand to struggling industries. At the same time regional economies in the South Island seem to be showing signs of economic recovery while Auckland still contends with the country’s highest unemployment rate.
So I asked Councilor Shane Henderson about how Auckland Council can stimulate that growth and how that growth can have equitable benefits across the entire city.
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