29 Aug 2025
Creative New Zealand is proud to support the 2025 Artist in Residence at the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury—an initiative that continues our long-standing commitment to Pacific arts and cultural leadership.
This residency aligns with Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy 2023–2028, particularly the Tagata focus area, which ensures Pacific artists and arts practitioners have the resources to grow their practice and create outstanding work. It also supports the Va focus area, cultivating a networked and innovative Pacific arts ecosystem for long-term outcomes.
Creative New Zealand and the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies are excited to announce Tiana Malina Te Rongopatahi Mo’iha as this year’s Artist in Residence. A Kanaka Maoli, Tongan, Filipino, wahine māhū (MVPFAFF+ woman) from Hāna Maui, Kingdom of Hawai‘i, Tiana brings a rich and diverse creative practice to Ōtautahi.
Tiana is an alaka‘i (leader) for Halau Hale Kuhikuhi, a traditional school for indigenous Hawaiian architecture, and the founder of Indi-Genius Minds, an organisation that creates cultural taonga and educational tools to reconnect people with nature, culture and identity.
Tiana’s work is grounded in ancestral wisdom and includes kūkulu hale building (customary house building), lei making, lauhala (pandanus) weaving, ocean sailing and music. During her residency, she’ll take part in a panel discussion and present an exhibition at Fibre Gallery as part of the Adaptation Futures 2025 conference.
“Ma ka hana ka ‘ike – in working one learns.”
— Hawaiian proverb (Ōlelo No’eau 2088, Mary Kawena Pukui)
“We are very fortunate to have Tiana as Artist in Residence,” says distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva, Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific.
“Her artistic skills are of very high calibre, trans-Pacific, interdisciplinary and span across traditional architecture, music and other forms of creative expression.”
Creative New Zealand has supported the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies Artist Residency since 1996. This three-month residency provides Pacific artists based in Aotearoa with the opportunity to advance their practice, develop innovative projects, and contribute to the enrichment of Pacific arts and culture.
With support from the University of Canterbury and arts spaces in Ōtautahi, the residency also offers valuable opportunities for professional and creative development. It also supports the delivery of the University of Canterbury’s Pacific Strategy 2024–2030, under the Creative Pacific: Enriched cultural horizon focus area.
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