Aria Hinewai Parker is a contemporary Māori artist whose work navigates a raw, generational connection to ancestral land and the fluid movement of the ocean. Rooted in the lineage of creatives from the Reporua Valley, Te Tairāwhiti, her practice is deeply tied to the natural world. The remote beauty of Reporua, shaped by childhood summers exploring rockpools and riverbanks serves as a spiritual anchor, offering an enduring sense of freedom and sense spatial exploration and cultural belonging.

She draws immense inspiration from the Kāpiti coastline, where spectacular sunsets and the constant, protective presence of Te Motu o Kāpiti frame her daily life. Here, Te Moana (the ocean) mirrors her internal landscape, vast, fluid, and never stagnant - reflecting a personal tenacity and resilience within the shifting tides and currents. 
A life event shifted Aria’s creative direction, leading to the inception of Pourama light. Grounded in the belief that everyone holds an internal light to guide them through challenging times, her pieces act as physical conduits for illumination. 
Her work has been showcased alongside iconic architect and close friend, Roger Walker, a deeply humbling experience that echoed the warmth and connection at the heart of her practice together with her supporting community. 

"Life events changed my creative direction, which led me to creating Pourama. My belief is we all hold an internal light within, which guides us throughout our lives throughout challenging times." 

– Aria Hinewai Parker