This apakura (lament) is sung by a solo female voice taking the position of a tuna (eel) who is unable to follow the ancestral trails her tīpuna have followed for millennia. Following the structure of a mōteatea (traditional chant), she expresses her grief for the end of her line as she cannot find passage to the ocean to release her hua. With this artwork we raise awareness of her plight, and call for action to enable her passage before it is too late.

‍

Watch the opening of this remarkable installation here.

‍

Ārai Awa has been commissioned by Te Atamira with the support of Creative New Zealand.

‍

‍