PROJECTS /
Project Kahurangi
Project Summary
New Zealand’s first marine conservation visual library
Royalty free use for conservation purposes
Bringing issues hidden out of sight into the spotlight
Photo Credit / Project Kahurangi
IMAGERY THAT RESONATES
The issues facing the ocean are not new. For decades scientists have been signalling the unprecedented loss of biodiversity, water quality and diminishment of ecosystem health. These issues are largely out of sight. Below the waterline. It’s harder to see and easier to ignore.
We all love it, but we need to move to guardians. First, we need to care. Effective communication and connecting people with how remarkable, special, and fragile it is, needs to be prioritised.
“I decided to take action when I noticed some of the communications coming out around ocean restoration lacked impact visually, leaving the story half told...”
Gareth Cooke
Founder – Project Kahurangi
It’s common knowledge that a picture tells a thousand words. At Live Ocean, we know first-hand how powerful, relevant local imagery is in connecting the public to what is happening below the waterline.
We also know access to images is a barrier for conservation groups out there doing the mahi on tiny budgets. Aotearoa New Zealand’s distinctive ocean space means foreign stock imagery doesn’t resonate. Local footage, especially underwater, is often expensive and time-consuming to source.
New Zealand’s first marine conservation visual library, Project Kahurangi is the solution.
PROJECT KAHURANGI
IN NUMBERS
high-quality images of New Zealand's unique marine environment
engaging videos above and below the waterline
Royalty-free use for ocean conservation
people and groups have used the library to improve their ocean communications
WHO CAN USE IT?
These resources are available for free to all non-profit groups, educational institutions, Iwi/Hapū and whānau kaitiaki to support their ocean conservation campaigns and communications.
Gareth Cooke
FOUNDER & PHOTOGRAPHER, PROJECT KAHURANGI
Gareth Cooke’s life has always revolved around the ebbs and flows of the ocean. This lifelong journey which has included two circumnavigations in The Ocean Race has developed a strong passion for the ocean and an even stronger passion to look after it. While looking at some messaging about ocean conservation, he realised that a lot of messaging lacked a strong or relevant visual component to help tell the story. If he could take away cost and accessibility barriers for ocean conservation organisations – Gareth was sure he could help improve messaging for ocean conservation in Aotearoa.
Project Kahurangi was born. Through visual storytelling, his ultimate goal is to show what is happening in our oceans, both the good and the bad, to inspire people to care more about the health of our ocean.
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