In Seven Rivers Walking Haere Mārire, we hear from the river guardians of Canterbury. Degradation of our rivers continues, yet more and more wells are dug. Shelter belts are destroyed to make way for irrigators.Water is taken and not returned. Factories leach contaminants. Nitrate pollution increases. Sediment from housing developments pollutes rivers. Fish and bird life struggles to flourish. Seventy kai tiāki – fishermen, local iwi, farmers, artists, rafters, scientists, trampers – reveal the braided story of the Canterbury rivers. Together, people come up with coherent solutions to restore the rivers.
Currently this film is self-funded and we need to raise the funds to post-produce the film.
Gaylene Barnes (RAYNBIRD) and Kathleen Gallagher (WICKCANDLE) are professional filmmakers from Canterbury.
Gaylene lives in a bungalow in Woolston, near the gelatine factory beside the Heathcote Opawaho River. She has an urban farm on 800sqm with her German partner and Samoan daughter. Gaylene's family also operate a small heritage potato farm on the fertile side of the Rakaia River.
Kathleen also lives on the Heathcote Opawho, her family once lived along the Orari. She is a poet and wordsmith. An esoteric filmmaker and activist. Her other works include EARTH WHISPERERS PAPTUANUKU and WATER WHISPERERS TANGAROA.