This 7 story mural was painted in Rotorua for the amazing @aronuiartsfestival

Inspired by Wahine Toa Mākereti Papakura, Te Arawa, Tūhourangi iwi. (1873-1930).

Based on Mākereti’s story, her different adornments & clothing represent the two worlds she was part of. Her life & roots here in Aotearoa & her life abroad in England.

Her hair flows free on one side with her huia feather woven in & a ribbon on the other side, to represent the red headscarf she wore when she was a famous tourist guide at Whakarewarewa thermal valley in Rotorua.

She wears her Korowai & tiki Te Uoro as well as her 1900’s style dress, the skirt transforms into her piupiu. Her torso is a Taniwha to follow her gut instincts & her neck becomes Taniwha, speaking fluently & fiercely in both languages.

She wears one boot, a hybrid taniwha/1900’s style boot to represent the merging of two worlds, the other barefoot shows she is grounded in knowing exactly who she is & her whakapapa. She kneels on the wave as she travelled back and forth across the ocean.

Holding a physical scroll representing her writing achievements in her Taniwha hand, she strongly & unapologetically claims her contribution to literature & representing Māoritanga.

She is poised, holding her Taiaha, ready to stand up for who she is, her people, culture & what she believes in no matter how hard the journey.

What an honour to collaborate with Mākereti’s descendant, June Grant. Ngā mihi @juneairinigrant for your guidance, trust & your creative input to add the design detail for the piupiu.

Massive mihi to Cian, Frances, Bobby and the whole @aronuiartsfestival crew for everything and to @elliotodonnell79 with @bareps for helping with project management.

Ngā mihi to @creativenz for the funding to make this happen!

And to the @sulphur_city_soapery & @totalaccess for safe access

Photos captured by @aio.media.nz