Ngātiwai, Ngātihine, Ngāpuhi artist Josh Kiwikiwi from Whangārei has always been a storyteller through colour and form. Drawing and painting since childhood, his journey from hobbyist to full-time artist has been one of courage, resilience, and reconnection.

“I always knew I’d be an artist, I just didn’t know in which field. About nine years ago I realised I could make a living and career from this,” says Josh. “So I just starts drawing and painting again. Fast forward to a year and a half ago I quit my full time job to finally pursue my passion and took that leap into business. It hasn’t been easy, balancing the creative with the financial, learning systems for marketing and accounting, but I’ve kept going and learnt along the way. Even when people told me to get a real job, I stayed true to this path.”

Josh’s art reflects a deepening relationship with his whakapapa and te ao Māori. “In the beginning I was just creating things that looked Māori,” he admits. “But I started digging deeper, learning about the meanings behind patterns, the stories woven into them”. This journey was transformed when Josh started learning Te reo Māori last year.

“It was truly transformative” he explains, “I posed a question to myself that needed answering - ‘am I an artist who is Māori or am I a Māori artist’ - being able to connect with my reo and who I am informed my discipline to where My mahi is now about reclamation, whakapapa, and storytelling. Every piece carries a story, however I’m still forever learning”.

He hopes his journey will inspire tamariki and  rangatahi to pursue creative pathways. “When I was growing up, being an artist wasn’t seen as a real career. I want our young ones to see that it’s possible but more importantly their whānau to see it’s possible as well, and encourage them down a creative pathway.

Josh’s vision for the future is a self-sustaining, whānau-driven creative enterprise. One that prints its own artwork, explores fashion and merchandise, and provides opportunities for whānau to grow together.

His advice for aspiring Māori entrepreneurs? “Just start. Don’t overthink it. Within the pakihi Māori space there’s room for everyone. The more voices we have the better the outcomes, so take your idea, back yourself, and do it.”

You can check out Josh’s work at www.joshkiwikiwifineartist.com/ and on all social platforms @joshkiwikiwi.artist