Artists Talk & Digital Photography Exhibition
Nick Netzler, a photographer from Wellington, travelled to Wānaka earlier this year, as part of Creative NZ’s Pacific Arts Nature Residencies. His first time in Wānaka, he spent time with WAI Wānaka, learning more about the work they do and documenting the team in action.
Nick was in awe of the Wānaka landscape and saw first-hand how the community looked after the land and its resources.
“This was a whole new experience for me. As someone from urban Wellington, spending time with WAI Wānaka and their community really opened my eyes. I was surprised by how familiar it felt like working with whānau. The way we came together and valued the environment felt very natural for me from a Pasifika worldview,” says Nick.
Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Nature Residencies is an opportunity for experienced Pasifika photographers to capture the stories of Aotearoa’s rural communities. Piloted in 2025, two residencies were co-designed by Creative New Zealand staff and local communities in the Upper Waimakariri and WAI Wānaka catchments. The initiative between art and environment was supported by Aotearoa New Zealand Catchment Communities, the national body supporting local communities dedicated to sustainable land and water management.
“I was in awe of the beautiful Wānaka landscape and the community’s efforts to protect it. They’re doing all this research on measuring nitrate levels and micros. There were some things I had no idea existed! As a photographer, it was a big learning curve seeing how hands-on and practical the work is to keep the waterways healthy and flowing.”
A catchment is an area where rainfall gathers and flows through soil and streams into rivers, lakes and wetlands – important systems that support people and nature. WAI Wānaka supports communities within the Upper Clutha catchment working together to protect the health of their waterways and ecosystems.
The initiative incorporates photography and digital storytelling to highlight the resilience and renewal of freshwater ecosystems, sustainable land use, and biodiversity.
Ben Ensor, Chair of Aotearoa New Zealand Catchment Communities (ANZCC) is excited to collaborate with Creative New Zealand Pacific arts and the catchment communities.
“Each catchment group is addressing complex issues such as water quality, climate change and biodiversity that are specific to their area, and they are doing so through community-led initiatives. ANZCC is looking forward to supporting these stories being shared to a broader audience,” says Ben.
Michaela Blacklock, WAI Partnerships Lead is thrilled to be involved with the debut of the project.