Tōku kōrero

My Creative Journey

My mahi is deeply entrenched in Te Ao Māori. As a Māori artist, and with a family history marked by disconnection from whakapapa — my mother being a victim of closed adoption — my creative practice is part of a personal journey to reclaim and reconnect with our culture. Engaging with te reo Māori, rākau, and mahi toi are steps I take to heal this intergenerational mamae.

Growing up in Te Kuiti, the heart of Maniapoto, I was captivated by stories of Rewi Maniapoto during the New Zealand Wars, King Tāwhiao and the Kingite movement of the 1860s, and the exile of Te Kooti in Te Kuiti. These stories were shared orally by elders, yet I discovered that little to none of this rich history was taught in schools.

A pivotal moment came during a school visit to Te Awamutu, where I encountered paintings of Ātua Māori at a local wānanga. Seeing Māori depicted in such heroic, almost superhero-like fashion resonated deeply with me as a comic book fan and inspired me to explore Māori history and mythology through the visual medium I love.

Because Māori history and mythology are not widely available or accessible, my comics aim to stoke these fires — to share these stories in ways that are exciting, accessible, and meaningful. Through my art, I hope to offer tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau the opportunity to connect with our culture, whakapapa, and mātauranga — providing “soul food” that I have long yearned for.

Thank you for reading

Ngā mihinui e hoa