Ngataiharuru Taepa’s creative foundations are deeply rooted in his whānau. He was influenced early by his grandmother, painter Mavis Newland, and his father, Wi Taepa, a pioneering Māori clay artist and carver.

Taepa exhibits widely both nationally and internationally.His work was included in Indigenous Histories, a landmark exhibition at the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) in Brazil and are held in major collections including Te Papa Tongarewa, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, and Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira.

His current practice explores contemporary issues in Aotearoa through installation, painting, and woodwork. He remains deeply engaged with kōwhaiwhai, drawing on this tradition to speak to both historical and present-day narratives.

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