Mānawatia a Matariki. In this work, the voice of DJ Moemoea (Te Kahureremoa) guides the viewer on a celestial journey through time and space, and the nine stars of Matariki. In a radio-inspired broadcast, Moemoea describes the special attributes of each star, as landscape imagery and overlaid digital animations create visual representations of the stars' differing characteristics and narratives. Through the water stars of Waitī, Waitā, and Waipuna-ā-Rangi, we traverse scenes of oceanic expanse; next we venture towards Ururangi, the star of the storms we weather together. Tupuānuku and Tupuārangi are stars that pay homage to the food harvested from the earth and the sky, and celebrate the nourishment of kai and kōrero with whānau. Pōhutukawa reminds us of our loved ones who have gone beyond the veil. Finally, we visit Hiwa-i-te-rangi, who deals with the deepest desires of the heart. A sacred female star, Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the youngest whetū of the Matariki cluster, and is connected to the promise of a prosperous season. 'Hiwa' means 'vigorous of growth' and 'I te rangi' means 'in the sky'. It is to Hiwa-i-te-rangi that we can send our moemoeā (wishes), our hopes and dreams.
DJ Moemoea's voiceover is accompanied by an iterative multimedia soundscape produced by Berry, exploring frequency, vibration and energy. As in previous compositions, Berry translates the chromosome sequencing data of her DNA into a musical score, performed using taonga pūoro and layered with sounds from the whenua and bird calls. Encouraging "rest as resistance", Hiwa-i-te-rangi heralds the time for reflection, renewal, and reconnection with the past. Mauri ora ki a tātou.
