A Mokomoko Kōrero

An evening of mokomoko storytelling, in Madison Kelly's TAUTIAKI HAPTIC.

To further share knowledge of our mokomoko, Madison has invited Kāti Huirapa Language Group member Waiariki Parata-Taiapa, Orokonui Educator Taylor Davies-Colley, and herpetologist Samuel Purdie to share their personal connections and experiences with native lizards (near or far!).

TAUTIAKI HAPTIC welcomes visitors to learn and participate with systems of sound, light, and touch, via a series of bronze castings made from field records between the east and west coast of Te Waipounamu. Referencing the shared whakapapa of mokomoko (lizards), wai (water) and kōhatu (stones) it invites us to think upon our relationships with native lizards and their environments. Many native lizards are elusive, they are rarely seen, and some are still being described.

Madison Kelly (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Pākehā) graduated from the Dunedin School of Art in 2017 with a BVA (Hons First Class). Grounded in Kāitahutaka and sensory experience, their Ōtepoti based practice works across multispecies histories and futures. Recent shows include toko by and by (Blue Oyster Art Project Space, 2022) and Paemanu: Tauraka Toi (Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 2021). Kelly is one of Te Tumu Toi The Arts Foundation’s 2023 Springboard Award recipients. Alongside their art practice, Kelly is lead kaiārahi/guide at Te Korowai o Mihiwaka, Orokonui Ecosanctuary.

Taylor Davies-Colley (Te Hikutu, Ngāpuhi) is an ecologist, and science communicator and senior educator at Te Korowai o Mihiwaka, Orokonui Ecosanctuary.  Taylor is currently living in Ōtepoti Dunedin, and is known for his work spreading knowledge and admiration for the many trees, and other species, of Aotearoa on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter under the handle @TayTalksTrees.

Waiariki Parata-Taiapa (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Porou) is a writer, poet, and member of the Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki Te Reo Māori committee. Waiariki is the Education Adviser Māori Engagement at the Ministry of Education working with ākonga, kura and whānau across Otago and Southland.

Samuel Purdie is a herpetologist, science educator and award-winning wildlife photographer currently based in Wānaka. He received MSc in Wildlife Management focused on alpine geckos from the University of Otago. Samuel spends much of his time researching native alpine lizards and advocating for New Zealand's lesser-known wildlife, and in 2022 published A Naturalist’s Guide to the Reptiles & Amphibians of New Zealand, an identification guide to 141 reptile and amphibian species of New Zealand.

FREE 5.30pm Thursday 9 November in the exhibition Suite 2023

[image: Madison Kelly TAUTIAKI HAPTIC  2023. Installation detail, Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Photo: Justin Spiers]