Ngahuia Te Awekotuku is a pioneering Māori writer, academic, curator and activist whose work has shaped the cultural and intellectual landscape of Aotearoa. A fearless advocate for Māori rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ communities, she has been at the forefront of Indigenous scholarship and creative expression for over five decades.

Her research and writing span Māori art, heritage, performance, gender, sexuality and identity, and she has published widely in both academic and creative forms. She was among the first to write critically on contemporary Māori art and artists, and her influence continues to guide generations of researchers and practitioners.

Ngahuia has held senior roles across universities, museums and arts organisations, curating exhibitions that bring Māori voices and taonga to the centre. She has received numerous honours recognising her contribution, including being made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM).

Her voice remains vital in ensuring Māori knowledge, tikanga and creativity are acknowledged, protected and celebrated.

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