SEASONAL AGREEMENT

Every year, Te Tauihu becomes a temporary home to migrant workers from across Moana Oceania. Seasonal workers are part of our everyday landscapes but remain mostly hidden or unrecognised. Ōtautahi Christchurch-based artist John Vea (Tonga, Aotearoa New Zealand) explores the complexities facing migrant workers adapt to the hegemonic laws of working in Aotearoa whilst building a sense of belonging after leaving home.

Vea uses his characteristic sense of humour to point to the bureaucratic challenges and barriers migrant must navigate to make a living in Aotearoa ­– often with a tight timeline, and with the harsh realities of hard labour and acclimatising to a drastically different environment while maintaining a sense of self and caring for those left behind at home.

Image Credit – ABC News