Artist and community researcher Dayna Raroa (Ngāti Porou) is transforming a published study on how severe weather affects health and wellbeing into an art exhibition in Gisborne. The research, co-authored by Raroa and published in June 2024, was originally shelved in a library; she now presents its findings through visual art to make the data more accessible and engaging for the local community.
This project matters because it bridges academic research and public engagement, using art to communicate the real-world impacts of climate-related weather events on community wellbeing. By moving the study from a library shelf to a gallery space, Raroa ensures the findings reach a broader audience, fostering dialogue about environmental resilience and health in a region increasingly affected by extreme weather.