Filmmaker documents work of Aorere Catchment Group
Filmmaker Kathleen Gallagher with her crew working at Garrett’s farm at Rockville. Photo: John Gilardi.
Acclaimed New Zealand documentary maker Kathleen Gallagher spent two days in the Aorere Valley in early May, collecting footage about how that rural community is involved with protecting and restoring its waterways.
It will become part of her latest documentary project, tentatively called Water Guardians, which will explore the healing and recovery of polluted and fished-out waterways, as well as the protection and conservation of vibrant waterways.
“This film is about reconnecting ourselves with our water places,’ says Kathleen. “Much of Aotearoa New Zealand is about water. We have the fourth-largest fishing zone in the world and no one lives far from the sea. Sea, lakes and rivers are an intimate part of our psyche. Each of us has a journey with water – we all have our mountain, our river, the place where our river meets the sea, our beach, and rocky shoreline. We have guides already in our midst – old fishermen and conservationists, farmers and local iwi, who are intimate with lake, river and sea life, knowledgeable about water places where you gather, and places that you leave alone, how to restore damaged waters, ancient practices for gathering kaimoana and for fishing, when and how to establish marine reserves, rahui and mataitai areas.
“This film will show people who live this intimate journey with water, maybe show a way forward for all of us – so that all of our waterways and oceans are nourished, cared for and full of life.”
Along with cameraman Mike Single and soundman Tim Brott, Kathleen drove up and down the valley to meet local folk and get the big picture. Dairy farmers revealed not only the intricacies of their effluent systems and practical solutions to fencing off paddocks, but were also interviewed at length about their personal perspectives. Michelle Riley of Rockville spoke about the process of the Aorere Catchment Group (ACG) working together, and also the empowerment model of “Farmers as Leaders”, which has been supported here by NZ Landcare Trust. Bill Wallace also took the filmmakers on a tour of the mussel farms offshore.
Speaking for the ACG, Sue Brown said braving the camera was quite nerve-wracking for many of the dairy farmers who were visited, “but we were keen to participate because we’ve grown to realise the importance of sharing a good-news dairying story with other farmers and non-farmers. For us it’s as much about the enabling process we’ve gained out of working with the NZ Landcare Trust and linking with community groups such as Stream Care, as it is about the measurable success we’ve had improving water quality in our waterways and coastal waters.”
The positive messages in Kathleen Gallagher’s independent documentary work (Wickcandle Films) have already made a mark. Her last film, Earth Whisperers Papatuanuku, shot at spectacular locations around New Zealand by cameramen Alun Bollinger and Mike Single, is an absorbing feature that focuses on 10 visionary New Zealanders out to prove that a shift in consciousness can heal our environment. Another film, Healing Whispers, follows the journey of 11 cancer patients back to good health, while Breath of Peace looked at eight peace activists around New Zealand. She has also made a string of short films.
Gerard Hindmarsh
