Juanita Hepi

Aotearoa New Zealand

Juanita Hepi, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngātiwai, Ngāpuhi, is an artivist, haututū and multidisciplinary storyteller who wanders around in a perpetual state of confusion, telling yarns to find peace. She holds a Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning, and a Bachelor of Arts from Toi Whakaari, where she now lectures in the Master's programme. Juanita works at Environment Canterbury and is a Research Fellow at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

When not working, Juanita rote-learns te reo Māori and botanical names of Aotearoa native plants, plays capitals of the world on Sporcle and gets lost in the idea that there is no free will. She has three tamariki and they are Kāi Tahu story makers too. 

Image: Matiu Calman