CHON

Born in Auckland and from the Far North (Ngati Kahu, Ngapuhi-nui-tonu), Chontelle Hohaia is a 2018 graduate who majored Graphic Design in the Bachelor of Creative Industries at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology – utilizing the influences of her culture and environment to make ordered sense of her creative practice.

Extending beyond the digital canvas, Chontelle also uses Graphic Design to encompass other visual communication practices such as paint, illustration, installation, publication, experimentation with light, and web design — predominantly being identity-based work in reflections of who she is, where she’s been and where she’s going.

Chontelle’s role within the events of Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust began in 2019 as Event Support for Nga Uri o Muturangi: Wananga Indigenous, and has since taken on the role of Event Management for 2020. She is involved because she is passionate – “I get to learn about and submerse myself in culture everyday – since coming to work on the events of Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust, not only do I get to help indigenous cultures across the world assert their voices, learn, share and grow – they’ve also taught me a lot more about myself in many ways, more than they know, simply because I get up and do the mahi everyday.”