LANDBACK

NOVEMBER 2025 by TE WAIOTU FAIRLIE (ARTISTIC DESIGN & RANGATAHI VOICE), REGAN FAIRLIE (KAI RANGAHAU, EDITOR), CARMEN FAIRLIE (NGĀ KUPU), TE RIU RAIHANIA (COMMUNITY RESEARCHER - INTERVIEWER), TEAH CARLSON (VISIONARY).

The final session for our six-month Something Awkward experimental public lecture series was on landback. Joined by Palistinian artivist Rana Hamida and Tauiwi treaty educator Mikesh Patel, members of Te Rōpū Māori and their whānau researched the mechanisms by which land was and is stolen in Te Tairāwhiti and created the following six infographics to convey findings. Each was presented to session participants in turn, asking participants to pause and discuss corresponding pātai:::

WHAT QUALITIES OF TUATINI CAN YOU SEE IN YOURSELF?

HOW WILL WE EXPLAIN THE LANDBACK MOVEMENT TO OUR TAMARIKI?

WHO IS THE GREATEST BENEFACTOR OF ALL THIS?

WHO IS THE PUPPETEER?

HOW WILL YOU HELP THE LANDBACK MOVEMENT?

HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN WE SAY, FUCK HOPE?