A move back to Christchurch was equally motivated by whanau (family) and by a sense that things were indeed changing in the city post February 2011 earthquake. Kiri believes there has been a cultural shift and a greater appreciation and desire for understanding local history, for the Maori story, and for community devised and driven projects.
With over ten years’ experience working in the arts, public art has become a particular area of focus and study; Kiri was a 2010 Winston Churchill Fellowship recipient to research public arts in the UK and Ireland. Whakapapa – the history or genealogy of a place and the relationship between place and people – underpins Kiri’s approach to public art, coupled with a belief that community involvement is essential for successful public art commissions.
