Qiane Matata-Sipu

Qiane Matata-Sipu (Te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao, Cook Islands) is an award-winning journalist, photographer, visual artist and entrepreneur, working across these industries for over 16 years. The 2021 Arts and Culture Woman of Influence is the founder and creator of NUKU, a social enterprise that celebrates Indigenous wāhine. Using a creative, storytelling platform, NUKU amplifies Indigenous female change-makers, system shakers and leaders through audio podcasts, photography, videography, art and live events. NUKU invites wāhine to look at the world through a different cultural lens: one made by and for Indigenous women, mā hine mō hine kia hine. NUKU uses the arts to enhance self-confidence and reduce the impacts of racism, discrimination and social exclusion. At the end of 2021, Qiane self-published the acclaimed book NUKU: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women, which is currently shortlisted for the prestigious Ockham New Zealand book awards. Alongside NUKU Qiane is the co-founder/leader of the SOUL Protect Ihumātao campaign and is a communications strategist. This year she has returned to Kura studying rumaki reo (total immersion te reo Māori) at Te Wananga Takiura.