Unutai e! Unutai e! Lament for fresh water harnesses the power of contemporary art and first-person accounts to shed light on an urgent environmental crisis: the deteriorating state of fresh water across Ngāi Tahu tribal lands in Te Waipounamu, the South Island of New Zealand.
Anne Noble’s stunning photographs document the widespread degradation of fresh water and are accompanied by her conversations with the people who are striving to restore wai māori, uphold rangatiratanga and protect the mahinga kai practices that are integral to Ngāi Tahu identity and survival.
But this is not just a Ngāi Tahu story. The degradation of fresh water is a crisis that affects
everyone. Water is the essence of life, binding us
together across cultures and generations. Unutai e! Unutai e! makes a compelling call to action, reminding us that with knowledge, persistence and collective effort, we have the power to restore ecosystems and honour the legacy of those who have come before us.