The team
Creative Director
Neil Pardington (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Clan Cameron of Erracht) is a distinguished creative director, designer, and photographer whose practice spans exhibition design, visual identity, and publishing. Specialising in fine art publications, he has produced numerous award winning books and exhibition projects in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, earning sustained recognition throughout his career. Fiona Pardington’s brother, as Creative Director of Taharaki Skyside he has worked closely with her in shaping this project.
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
Curators
Felicity Milburn is Lead Curator at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, and works collaboratively with artists on a wide range of projects, from temporary installations to large-scale surveys. Recently, these have included Peter Robinson, Yona Lee, Francis Upritchard and Cheryl Lucas. Dummies & Doppelgängers (2024) explored her long-held fascination with everything art can tell us about human nature.
Chloe Cull (Kāi Tahu, Aerani, Ingarani) is Pouarataki Curator Māori at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. She works primarily with Māori artists to develop exhibitions that explore and uplift Indigenous knowledge and storytelling.
The manu guide us. When we gaze into their eyes, we will see the horizons they gaze out upon and are situated within.
Fiona Pardington
Commissioner
Kent Gardner is Commissioner for New Zealand at the Venice Biennale. As Chair of Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, he brings international leadership across business and governance, underpinned by a sustained commitment to cultural stewardship. A longstanding patron of the arts and advocate for New Zealand’s cultural presence globally, he serves as trustee and former Co-Chair of the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi and as trustee of the New Zealand Olympic Foundation.
Kaihautū
Puamiria Parata-Goodall (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Kahungunu) is a respected cultural leader with extensive experience across arts, culture and heritage. A lifelong kapa haka practitioner and advisor, Puamiria has guided cultural narratives across regions, and championed initiatives that strengthen identity, storytelling and Māori presence within Aotearoa’s arts landscape.
Patrons
Head of Patrons
Claire Chamberlain heads Te Tuhi’s Art Today programme and leads tours for Art Travel NZ. A former art history teacher and association president, she is a passionate advocate for Aotearoa artists. A long-time NZ at Venice supporter, Claire was a previous attendant for Lisa Reihana’s Emissaries and is thrilled to return in support of Fiona Pardington’s Taharaki Skyside.
Leigh Melville is the Managing Director of Art+Object auction house and has been working in the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland art market since the late 1990s. She is a keen supporter of a number of philanthropic organisations, including serving as a trustee of the Auckland Writers Festival and McCahon House. Leigh is a strong believer in the power of patronage to realise special projects such as NZ at Venice. She has been attending the Biennale since 2009 and looks forward to continuing her support of this prestigious event in 2025.
Senior Manager
Claire Murdoch
Project Director
Amber Baldock
Commissioner
Kent Gardner
Kaihautū
Puamiria Parata-Goodall
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
Director
Blair Jackson
Curators
Felicity Milburn, Chloe Cull
Exhibition Organisers
Chris Pole, Neil Semple, Holly Gemmell, Rebekkah Pickrill
Exhibition Design
Jamie Richardson, Peter Bray
Publication Team
Designer
Neil Pardington
Editorial
Fiona Pardington, Chloe Cull, Felicity Milburn and Sarah Pepperle
Managing Editor
Sarah Pepperle
Contributors
Geoffrey Batchen, Maia Nuku, Hana O’Regan, Harry Rickit, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Andrew Paul Wood
Attendants
International Public Relationships
Rees & Co. London
Website Development
Digital Arts Network
Venice Exhibition Manager
Diego Carpentiero
Venice Vernissage Coordinator
Alice Tibaldi Chiesa