Te Kahuwhero Alexander-Tu’inukuafe is a Maori and Tongan artist from Te Tai Tokerau, Aotearoa (Northland, New Zealand). She is from the iwi (tribe) of Ngapuhi and the hapu (sub-tribes) of Ngai Tawake ki te tuawhenua, Ngati Rehia and Te Whiu. After graduating with a Master of Architecture (Professional) from The University of Auckland in 2014, she has been working as a librarian in Aotearoa and Melbourne, Australia. Recently, Te Kahuwhero decided to return to Te Tai Tokerau to reconnect with her whanau (family), hapu and iwi.

Her art practice is underpinned by her connection to te ao tuturu (the natural world), in particular to the whenua (land), moana (sea) and rangi (sky). Observing te taiao (the environment) is an important part of her practice. Te Kahuwhero’s observations of te taiao are documented through photography, and the photographs and her memories are used to inform her drawings. Her most recent body of work is a series of drawings about her awa (river) Waitangi and was part of the ‘Passing Rituals’ exhibition at the Brunswick Street Gallery, curated by Chloe Caday.