Kaa Te Mihi Puketapu

Te Ara i Whiti Artist

MAHI TOI

Te Puna Waiora

Te Puna Waiora has been created to provide a sanctuary for tamariki. It is a space where their wishes and dreams are heard, carried into the light and received by their tīpuna. In return, the glow of the work embodies the aroha, guidance and the hopes and dreams of their tīpuna back towards the tamariki.

By re-indigenising children’s spaces, Te Punawaiora restores belonging and connection, allowing everyone in the community to form core memories of being seen, valued and heard. It is both healing and reciprocal, like a bridge of light between the voices of tamariki and the blessings of their tipuna.

Kaa Te Mihi Puketapu is a graduate of Toihoukura, a weaver and multimedia artist whose practice is deeply rooted in whakapapa, tamariki and rongoā. Her mahi is guided by Mātauranga Māori and the interconnected relationships between healing, identity, and te taiao.
Inspired by indigenous rights, healing, and whanau, her art explores themes of connection, resilience, and transformation. Traditional forms are blended with contemporary expression allowing Kaa Te Mihi to create works that honour her tipuna while speaking to the present and looking toward the future.