Pākehā is my culture, New Zealander is my nationality and my ethnic identity is Scottish, Welsh and Irish. My ancestors immigrated to Aotearoa in the early 1800’s settling in Pātea, Te Whanganui-a-tara and Ōtautahi. I grew up on a sheep and beef farm on the south bank of the Hurunui River in the Waitaha rohe. I acknowledge Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga are, and always will be mana whenua and the principled kaitiaki of the whenua that my family temporarily occupy.

I do not whakapapa to the whenua that has given my family life, purpose, safety, education and privilege. I am manuhiri under Te Tīritī O Waitangi and I am on a lifelong journey of reckoning my family histories, unlearning colonial ways and learning how to be tangata Tīritī. The research I have undertaken and am sharing through writing and textile practice is shaped by my worldview and personal positional context. My views and blind spots reflect my social circles, class, gender, sexuality, upbringing, education, and life experience. My position is more than who I am as an individual, I represent the history of institution, colonisation, racism, power and privilege that I am a product of and that I benefit from.

In my textiles research and practice I am passionately focused on creating and advocating for 100% biodegradable and compostable textiles. The processes I specialise in are natural dye, weaving, felting material testing and research methodology. I have comprehensive textile design skills, knowledge of sustainable textile processes and a positive outlook on how the textiles industry could operate in balance with the natural environment.