Deirdre Nehua, Māori activist, matakite (seer), and poet, received a Cosmic Sister Ancestor Medicine Award for a professional photoshoot in support of “Etched in My Heart / Nga Kupu I Mokohia I Taku Ngakau,” her upcoming book of poems in both Māori and English

Deirdre Nehua (Ngātiwai / Ngāti Hao) has spent most of her life working for positive change for ngāi Māori, challenging the racism and inequities thrust upon our communities as a result of colonisation. She is also a writer and poet.

From her involvement in the Maori Land March and land occupations of the 70s, 80s and 90s, to working in prisons, reputedly becoming the first CEO to wear moko kauae and, travelling the world to exchange indigenous knowledge with other first nations people, she has fit a lot of life into her 7 decades.