Sad news

I found out last week, belatedly and through convoluted means, about the sad passing away of Geoff Park, in March. I feel moved to talk about it because if I had not read his amazing book Nga Uruora: Ecology and History in a New Zealand Landscape, this project would not have come about. My research began with the botanists on the Endeavour, and a fascination with what their brief collecting forays stirred up in the journals of both Cook and Joseph Banks; their voyage of discovery became very much one of resource notation. But it was following Park's pilgrimage to the Hauraki Plains, to the landing place of Captain Cook, that inspired me to both make this work and to make it exist outside of the gallery, and into the future. I have always been frustrated by New Zealand's ecological history, how we (humans) have managed to transform the landscape in such drastic ways in such a short period of time. Park's writing both inspired great grief as to what we have lost, but also a determination to try to conserve that which we have left. I am sure he has inspired many people in this way, and I am saddened to think that there will be no more writings from this passionate thinker.