Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou

Aroha is a proud member of the Kaiwhātu team at Te Rito, New Zealand’s national weaving school. With a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in painting, Aroha has cultivated an established and diverse art practice that spans over three decades, blending both painting and Raranga (Māori weaving) into her creative expression.

Her journey into Māori art began with her studying at the Craft Design Māori course at Waiariki Polytechnic in 1989, where her love for Māori art, particularly the art of Raranga kete (woven baskets), was ignited. This experience laid the foundation for her future as both a painter and a weaver, and her passion for these crafts continues to grow. Through her work, Aroha honours and carries the wisdom and knowledge of her tupuna (ancestors). As a weaver, she feels a profound connection to both the past and the future, with each piece of art serving as a bridge between
generations.