Documentary Screening: The Unseen (Auckland)

Come join us for the film screening of the short film: The Unseen. Showing on Tuesday May 14th at 6pm at the University of Auckland in 109-B10 (General Library Level 0, Room B10)! After the screening, we'll have a Q&A from four incredible panel speakers, with some delicious nibbles available.

The Unseen is a full-of-wonder film that is both educational and inspirational. It is the hope of both the filmmakers Geoff and Tim and Save Our Springs that it will contribute to the ongoing protection of Waikoropupu Springs which remain endangered because of the intensification of dairy farming in the recharge area of the aquifer that feeds them. The key to this contribution is the groundbreaking Te Waikoropupu Water Conservation Order that is already creating precedence in the legal world.

Our four panel speakers lined up for this event are:

Geoff Reid:

Geoff Reid is a passionate environmental activist, nature photographer and content creator in Aotearoa. Geoff uses his skills as a visual communicator to advocate for forest and water restoration, pest management and increased biodiversity. He is the founder of One For Nature, a platform for documenting ongoing changes to our environment, centralising data and visual evidence, exposing greenwashing and growing a community of contributors that will help hold our agencies and corporations accountable. 

Geoff is only a one-man band, and to-date has been running on a shoe-string budget, so if you're going to support an environmental cause, support his work.

Timothy Firkin 

Timothy Firkin is an Aotearoa-born Māori documentary filmmaker, with over 15 years of expertise as a Producer/Director/DOP and Edit Specialist both domestically and internationally who has a strong commitment and vision to create purpose-driven stories, narratives that seek to preserve and highlight indigenous wisdom, knowledge, and contribute to positive social, environmental change.

His extensive portfolio includes directing, shooting, and editing two seasons of an international wildlife conservation television series in South America and Southeast Asia, and independently producing a feature documentary on the traditions of the Shipibo tribal group in the upper Amazon, Peru - among other noteworthy projects abroad.

On the domestic front, Timothy has independently produced several impactful environmental documentaries that have not only toured the nation but have also yielded substantial and measurable positive outcomes for the natural world. His collaborative efforts as a DOP, video editor extend to crafting local indigenous content for reputable shows such as Waka Huia, Te Hokinga Mai, AKE AKE AKE, Stolen Lands, The Hui, Marae DIY, and various Whakaata Māori productions. He has also made significant contributions to notable films like the award winning documentary feature "Whetū Mārama -Bright Star", and provided valuable material for esteemed art installations, including Lisa Reihana's permanent exhibition, "Ihi", at the Aotea Centre in Auckland.

Timothy Firkin's passion for visual storytelling is underscored by his belief in its unparalleled capacity to reflect and explore the incredible breadth, diversity of the human experience.


Kevin Moran

Kevin Fiadh Moran, an activist and shamanic poet, has coordinated the Save Our Springs (SOS) Campaign since 2017. During this time SOS has advocated strongly for the protection of Te Waikoropupū Springs, through rallies, a two-month North Island hikoi, three petitions, social media campaigns, and involvement in the Environment Court hearing. During the hearing, Kevin gave pioneering evidence that the springs have outstanding spiritual characteristics for Tauiwi (non-Maori) This precedent-creating evidence was accepted by the Court.

Kevin’s six books are available from his website www.poetshaman.co.nz Two of the books; ‘Water Protectors: The Story of the Campaign to Save Te Waikoropupū Springs’ and ‘Upwellings: The Outstanding Spiritual Qualities of Te Waikoropupū Springs’ tell the story of the battle to protect Aotearoa’s purest waters. As a green man and a poet shaman Kevin has received thousands of wisdom sayings on the edge of sleep. These ‘Sayings of Humanity’ rise directly from the Natural World and speak to humanity's greatest needs. ‘Sayings of Humanity’ are sprinkled liberally throughout Kevin’s books.

Emeritus Professor Paul Williams, ONZM

Emeritus Professor Paul Williams has undertaken world-leading research in geomorphology, hydrology, karst and paleo-climatology for more than 50 years, and was a leading expert in the Te Waikoropupu Water Conservation Order. 

Professor Williams has held several roles at the University of Auckland since 1972, including Deputy Dean of Science and Head of the Geography Department. He led the establishment of Environmental Science teaching in 1975. He led the 1974 Waitomo Cave Research Project, creating sustainable management guidelines for the Waitomo Glow Worm Cave to operate as a tourist attraction. He directed the 1983 Upper Waitemata Harbour Study for the Auckland Regional Authority, providing guidelines for sustainable land and water management. He researched and assembled New Zealand stable isotopic data spanning the last 125,000 years, which is used to inform climate change models. He is a world-leading expert in karst landscapes, landforms and aquifers formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks that occur across 13 percent of the Earth’s continental area. He became a member of the World Commission for Protected Areas in 2001, an expert specialist since 2008 for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Councillor since 2018 of the IUCN Geo-heritage Specialist Group. His input on international conservation has contributed to many sites being awarded natural World Heritage status. Professor Williams has authored books which remain foundational texts for geological and geographical research and teaching.

And our panel host:

Ben Eitelberg

Ben Eitelberg is the co-founder and co-host of The Lentil Intervention Podcast, an Australasian advocacy platform disseminating all aspects of planetary health.

He is the founder of Kaitiaki Endurance Sports, a group that trains and competes with a purpose; and not-for-profit Sports Gear Revived, redistributing unwanted sports gear and enabling increased participation in sport in low socio-economic communities.

Ben is a passionate environmentalist and an advocate for a ethical and healthy lifestyle, founding not-for-profit Athletes for Nature as a movement of outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate nature's importance and take action to protect it.

Can't wait to see you all there!