Fiona Collis

Fiona is an indigenous artist whose expertise is in Māori traditional textiles: raranga, whatu, and whiri. She can extract and prepare materials to produce durable and intricate objects and garments using traditional knowledge and practices handed down by her ancestors.​​​​​​

Fiona was raised in Tolaga Bay and having grown up close to her grandmother her interest in weaving was cultivated at an early age. She attributes her aunt Christina Hurihia Wirihana as being a major influence and mentor in her practice, pushing her to look beyond the boundaries of traditional weaving. Fiona acknowledges her grandmother as being her most significant teacher grounding her in the weaving arts.