Portraits of Indigenous Peoples - NgatiPorou

Tina Ngata is a NgatiPorou indigenous woman. The NgatiPorou are located in Aotearoa (Māori name for New Zealand) and currently have a known population of 71,049 people. Tina is wearing Te Aio o Hinehākirirangi - A rei puta (whale tooth heirloom) carved by artist RangiKipa, which pays tribute to their whale and seabird relations, to the wellbeing of the sea, and speaks to the ocean as unceded indigenous territory. The reiputa is also significant because NgatiPorou identify as the whale people and maintain strong connections to whales as their ancestors. Her mokokauae (chin tattoo) was brought forth by the priorly mentioned artist as well, and the uhi (tapped tattoos) on her arms relate to the work she does with rivers and indigenous communities.