The Aranui Project

The Aranui Project evolved from a second year documentary project with students from the School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury, and from a discussion with Sister Pauline O,Reagan, author and long time resident of Aranui. Sister O’Reagan proposed University of Canterbury students and staff speak with Aranui High School and suggested some of the possibilities that might extend from a collaboration between communities.

Aranui principal, Graham Plumber immediately supported the idea and introduced us to Sue Carswell and Steve Coates of the English Department. They arranged introductions and looked enthusiastically at the potential for creative involvement with their own students.

Aranui students kindly introduced School of Fine Arts students to their home place, making it possible for the photographers to understand something of the relationship between a particular place and the role it might play in the lives of those who live there.

At the completion of the Aranui project, work was selected for inclusion in the Place in Time archive. Subsequently, in April, 2001, this work was exhibited and then donated to Aranui High School to be used within the school's curriculum.