Hemi Sundgren.
Indigenous Design Practitioner - Mātauranga Māori Champion - Creative Innovator
Nō Ngāti Toa / Ngāti Raukawa / Te Atiawa
I whānau ai, tipu ake hoki i Kāpiti; e noho ana ki te Tai o Aorere
Hemi is a recognised New Zealand artist and indigenous design practitioner, specialising in Mātauranga Māori. A graduate of Te Puia (NZ Māori Arts and Craft Institute), he is an accomplished sculptor, lecturer and curator of Māori art and design. A practitioner of taa moko, graphic, architectural and spatial design, Hemi is a te reo Māori advocate and champion, historical researcher and treaty settlement negotiator.
Hemi has extensive experience in kaitiakitanga, traditional knowledge systems and Iwi / Māori social, cultural, environmental and economic development.
Specialising in indigenous design and mātauranga Māori Hemi's mahi is underpinned by a strong cultural base, rooted in customary and classical forms of expression. This tuāpapa allows an exploration of new forms, materials, approaches and innovative technologies whilst maintaining key indigenous values and principles that underpin all design work.