14 Days At Sea

Seventeen Days at Sea is a film that highlights and promotes the sanctuary’s value through a visual storytelling showcase. Over 17 days, photographers, poets, and filmmakers will journey to the sanctuary aboard the sailing vessel Letele Sa.

This film will take viewers on board the small yacht, where the team will create the film and additional resources for The Sanctuary Exposé. It offers a rare glimpse into the stunning marine life surrounding Horomaka, an area within the takiwa of five Kai Tahu hapū, rich in significant Māori and colonial history. These themes will be explored throughout the project.

The protection of the sanctuary and its life is crucial and must be actively promoted. Our goal is to create resources that provide genuine insights into the area and the challenges it faces. While data on global warming’s disastrous effects on the ocean can feel overwhelming, compounded by competing interests such as fishing, recreational activities, and pollution, our film aims to showcase the sanctuary and inspire meaningful action.

Seventeen Days at Sea serves as a visual showcase of a marine sanctuary identified as a hotspot for Hector’s dolphins on the east coast of the South Island. Its many bays and harbors provide an ideal habitat for Hector’s dolphins and other marine species.

Arts Project Lead: Mathew Maugagaoa Uili Farani Glanville, born and raised in Otautahi, has a deep affinity for the sea and is dedicated to promoting environmental protection through project initiation, direct action, and arts education. Our lives are intricately connected to the sea, making it essential to care for and protect these precious taonga. Throughout the Pacific, we are united by our Moana, which provides sustenance and holds immense cultural and spiritual significance.

Funding: I am seeking support to raise a total of $12,000 to cover project expenses, including:

• Use of a small yacht to explore the sanctuary
• Access to video equipment
• Editing costs
• Music for the film
• Support for the release event