Ayesha Green

In Transit Ayesha Green presents us with a modified version of Te Tohu Pakanga o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Coat of Arms. Intended to represent the sovereign nature of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Government’s authority, the coat of arms includes two figures – a Māori rakatira holding a taiaha and a European woman holding the New Zealand flag. Facing each other, they flank a shield depicting items of significance to the nation (sea trade, agriculture, sheep farming and mining), on top of which sits St Edward’s Crown. Green, however, focuses on the two figures who here face away from each other, their backs turned. She challenges the sense of equality and partnership suggested by the original depiction, highlighting the ongoing difficulties of Māori and Pākehā relations in Aotearoa New Zealand. rakatira ~ person of high rank, chief, leader taiaha ~ long wooden weapon

(He Kapuka Oneone – A Handful of Soil, 2025)