Hinemoa has been doing art since she was little, and has kept going as a mum of three small children, working alongside them, to rediscover and express her identity through mahi toi. She has a deep past to draw on having grown up alongside her late father who was a well-known carver and whale bone carver in the Far North, and her mother who is an archaeologist – so she is familiar with drawing kowhaiwhai, painting artifacts, birdlore and history. Her focus is to produce meaningful art that expresses identity, connection, and the beauty of te ao Māori. Her winning work Ruru was created using watercolour and fine liner pen – taking 2-3 months to draw the feathers. It is one of a series of original works Hinemoa had created for Toi Store.
Hinemoa says of her work:
“My name is Hinemoa Robati, the artist behind Mamamoedraws.
“I am a proud māmā of three beautiful children who inspire and empower me to continually rediscover my identity through my mahi toi. Based in Porirua, my practice is grounded in storytelling, creativity, and a deep connection to culture and whānau. My work spans traditional and digital mediums, including watercolour, professional-grade sketch pencils, and high-resolution digital illustration created in Procreate. Through each piece, I strive to create meaningful artwork that celebrates identity, connection, and the beauty of te ao Māori.”