Putaanga Waitoa

Born in Ahuriri (Napier) and raised in Rarotonga, Putaanga draws inspiration and acknowledges that her source of mana and peace stems from the whenua and moana. A confessed introvert at heart, photography is her creative voice- she has been a self-taught photographer since a young age, experimenting with disposable film and digital cameras. 

After becoming a mother, a deeper sense of returning to Aotearoa was felt. It was important for her to be able to raise her daughter knowing her roots through Te Ao Māori; embodying te reo Māori, waiata, and pepeha.

Putaanga’s creative journey has been an unfolding process of reclamation, honouring her tupuna for whom she was gifted the name of, Putaanga. The great-grandson of Porourangi, an eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Porou.

Passionate about indigenous people and activism, her focus is drawn to capturing authentic rawness. Drawing to the surface a sense of kotahitanga; she is an advocate for the creative indigenous community, Wāhine Māori, Moko Kauae, and Mana Motuhake.

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