Gisborne artist and community researcher Dayna Raroa is organizing an art exhibition titled "Mōwai: The Weight of Water" based on her co-authored study on how severe weather impacts health and wellbeing. The exhibition, funded by a $100,000 grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, will take place on September 27 at the former Marina Restaurant building in Gisborne, featuring over 30 local creatives who translate community-led research into artworks. Contributors include painters, photographers, sculptors, a tattoo artist, a builder using timber from a washed-out bridge, and a doctor highlighting medical prescription disruptions.
This matters because the exhibition offers an alternative way to communicate research findings to local leaders and the public, engaging people who may not participate in traditional civic processes like council meetings. It intersects with ongoing public discourse on disaster recovery, climate adaptation, and art as political and cultural commentary, giving visibility to local voices often overlooked in planning and policy spaces. The project also underscores the role of Māori-led research in building climate resilience and community wellbeing.