I cherish my Ngāi Tahu lineage, but only found out about it at the age of 30. I was adopted and brought up Pākehā (European New Zealander) and I am Pākehā in appearance. This embroidery is an expression of how my Ngāi Tahu identity slips in-between my Pākehā identity, changing it subtly, making it more complex. The drops of blood symbolise the fact that I am only 1/16th Māori in scientific/genealogical terms, yet that small part is of incredible importance to me.
