Our Team.
Ko mātou tēnei — te tira o Ngā Ao e Rua.
Guided by kaupapa, connected by creativity, and strengthened through collaboration
About Us
We are a husband and wife duo based in Whangārei, Te Rerenga Paraoa, Te Tai Tokerau.
With over 30 years of combined experience in Māori visual and performing arts, Ngā Ao e Rua has become an expressive platform dedicated to normalising Māori culture in everyday life — through art, design, education, and connection.
Our team continues to grow and evolve.
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Lara Witehira, specialising in whakairo, is completing her Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts this year and brings depth in design and contemporary Māori art practice.
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Lucas Manihera strengthens our kaupapa through his expertise in kapa haka, wānanga, and health & safety.
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Hemi Repia ensures tikanga and kawa within all our mahi remains grounded in integrity and cultural practice.
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Frana Repia, head creator of Ngā Ao e Rua, guides the vision that connects our artistic, cultural, and community streams together.
From what began as a team of two, Ngā Ao e Rua has grown into a collective built on collaboration — ensuring every project is carried out by those with the right skills, values, and intent to uplift our whānau, hapū, kura, and pakihi to thrive and succeed.
We are more than a pakihi making kakahu Māori — we are a creative movement that embraces all facets of te ao Māori.
Our journey continues to expand through wānanga, teaching, taiao initiatives, and cultural design, all guided by the heartbeat of our people and the vision of Ngā Ao e Rua.
The Story of Ngā Ao e Rua
Ngā Ao e Rua represents two worlds - Te Ao Māori (The Māori World) and Te Ao Hurihuri (The ever changing world).
After identifying the impact of the Māori Urban Migration, which commenced the decades following the Second World War. This left many whanau Māori disconnected from their foundations, only for the flow on effect to be disconnection for the coming generations.
Being one of the coming generations in our whānau we are actively working to stop the perpetuation of negative ideology whilst identifying and introducing positive narratives of the past with relevance to reflect needs of the current and future generations.
Ngā Ao e Rua creates a space that allows the amalgamation of worlds to create both tangible and non-tangible outcomes that support the normalization of Māori practices in everyday life.
Working within Toi Māori, Taiao, Māori Consultancy and Professional Partnerships allow Māori influence to be injected into spaces appropriately, effectively and without tokenism.