Māia Royal (Ngaati Korokii Kahukura, Ngāti Whānaunga) is a multi-media artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau and recent graduate of Auckland University of Technology.

Mātauranga Māori is the birthplace of Maia Royal’s work, and is the grounding force of her practice. Royal’s work manages to capture the intrinsic connection we hold with Papatūānuku (mother nature).

Throughout her process of harvesting and working with found natural materials the artist practices Tikanga. This approach enables her to access the knowledge of her tūpuna (ancestry) on a deeper level.

Wai o rongo explores the journey of our wairua (spirit) after our body passes on from Te Ao Mārama (the natural world). The aratiatia (ladder) represents Ngā Rangi Tūhāhā or the twelve bespaced heavens through which our wairua ascends. Audio recorded for this work was performed by sound healer Esmerelda Tikao.

Māia was given the AD25 Toi Māia Award for her cultural contribution to mātauranga Māori and indigenous knowledge.