Whatiwhatinga o Te Marama ◯ Pieces of the Moon, 2025

Whatiwhatinga o Te Marama ◯ Pieces of the Moon took place on Ōturu - the first full rising moon of the 2025 Whitebait Season. It was a site responsive live installation artwork by Whanganui artist Brydee Rood, featuring ephemeral installation and performance collaborations in poetry with Airini Beautrais and sound experimentation with Helen Frances O'Rourke, within the historic Durie Hill Elevator tunnel.

Brydee writes: ‘Whatiwhatinga o Te Marama ◯ Pieces of the Moon responds to the critical and complex circumstances surrounding Whitebait and freshwater ecologies. Out of the 5 Galaxiids 4 species are categorised as threatened or at risk of extinction. Only the Banded Kōkopu and Paraki - Common Smelt are not threatened. Popular annual fishing pressures during the Whitebait Season locally, regionally and around Aotearoa are a significant contributing factor in their decline, as are the impacts of habitat loss, environmental degradation, impeded fish passage within river systems and loss of spawning sites. Whitebait are a vital part of the indigenous biodiversity of Aotearoa, and are taonga and mahinga kai for Māori.’

Thanks to Brydee for commissioning ‘Fish Poem’ for this artwork.

Documentation courtesy of the artist.