@theflagpoll.nz
Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngā Pōtiki, Te Ātiawa, Ngāi Tahu
Linda is a multi-faceted contemporary Māori artist and activist whose creative practice directly reinforces the principles of tino rangatiratanga (self-determination). Her extensive body of work utilizes ancestral knowledge to explore the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of Māori cultural life, working dynamically across canvas painting, sculpture, and uku (clay).
Shaped by her foundational involvement with the Black Women’s Movement and historical Māori land rights campaigns, her artistic passion centres on political resistance, community empowerment, and the protection of women and children. Most notably, Linda’s spatial precision and creative draftsmanship gave final form to the iconic Tino Rangatiratanga flag in 1989.
As the sole surviving co-designer, she functions as the ultimate kaitiaki (guardian) of this profound national symbol, spearheading modern initiatives alongside the Art + Body team and Te Tuhi Māreikura Charitable Trust to legally secure its intellectual property. Through her art, she deliberately fosters Māori development by ensuring the kara (flag) is shielded from commercial exploitation and misappropriation, keeping the flag's benefits anchored entirely within the grassroots communities it was stitched to protect.
