Gaylene Barnes

Websitehttps://gaylenebarnes.com/

Canterbury-based artist, author and filmmaker, Gaylene has spent decades directing, editing and producing films that explore environmental, humanitarian, and social stories—including environmental documentary Seven Rivers Walking - Haere Mārire (2017) [co-directed]; humanitarian film Project 51 (2025); and human rights expose River of Freedom (2023). Her award-nominated production design and editing credits include the feature drama Scarfies (1999) as well as the documentary on eugenics in New Zelaand Out of Sight, Out of Mind (2005). Trained in fine arts, her egg-tempera illustrations and paintings— steeped in sacred and alchemical traditions—have been exhibited in New Zealand and overseas. Alongside her creative work she runs a self-sufficient farm in Selwyn. Drawn to the convoy and Wellington protest by a deep sense of injustice, she filmed and documented as an historian from the beginning. When writer Siân Clement reached out after seeing River of Freedom, a collaboration began, they co-wrote Heart of the Protest—her first book. 

Genre:

    Skills:

    • Adult Non-Fiction
    • Film Scripts
    • Freelance Designer
    • History
    • Illustrator
    • Web Writing

    Branch:

    Canterbury

    Location:

    Selwyn

    Publications:

    Heart of the Protest

    Heart of the Protest is the story of the nationwide Convoy 2022 NZ and the resulting protest and occupation of Parliament grounds in February and March that year. When the Government enforced mandatory COVID vaccinations on almost the entire workforce, New Zealanders rose up. Kiwis from all walks of life—teachers, students, medical professionals, tradespeople, musicians, pilots, farmers, ex-police, business owners and employees—arrived at Parliament expecting to be heard. Instead, they were ridiculed by media and collectively ignored by all 120 members of the House. This book expands on the stories of the people represented in the film River of Freedom (2023) who share memories of harm and division, and reflect on the failure of democracy and constitutional sovereignty in their country. Scores of voices from interviews during and following the protest have been woven together with politician and media comments from the time, to provide a comprehensive account that will elucidate the motives behind the thousands of Kiwis who streamed into Parliament grounds on 8 February 2022. Already ostracised from society--they had nothing to lose in their quest for restoration of their rights and freedoms. Heart of the Protest also hears from the filmmakers—how they came together on Parliament lawn to ensure a visual cinematic record was produced and distributed. Relying on crowdfunding and emerging media platforms, they released River of Freedom independently into cinemas across the country in September 2023. By the third week the film was #1 at the New Zealand box office.