7TH - 28th NOVEMBER 2025

‘māmā says our whenua is buried under the golden elm’ is an exhibition about whakapapa and the threads of their collective ancestral history. It is about exploring the stories of their tipuna and a reflection on how those histories shape where they stand today. It is an exploration of their relationship as a niece and an aunt, how they learn from each other and create together across generations. The title of this exhibition is both literal and metaphorical. Molly’s whenua is buried under the golden elm, alongside her siblings. The tree was planted by Paula’s parents. Though from different generations, they both grew up with the golden elm — The golden elm stands as a living reminder of ancestry, connection, and the shared ground on which we grow.

Molly Marene Oriwa Ratana 

(Ngati Apa)

Molly is currently studying Fine Arts majoring in Matauranga  Toi Maori at Massey University, Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

In 2026, she will be completing her honours year.

Molly won the WPPA for her age group this year with her work, Kōuma.

In 2021, she won the Feilding & District Art Society Youth Award. In 2017, as a year 9 student, she was the Supreme Award Runner Up and also the Sustainability Award Winner.

Paula Clare King 

Pākehā of (Irish and Danish ancestry) Paula lives in the Manawatū by the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges.  

Themes in her work are often around memory, protection, place, spirituality and the feminine.

Paula’s belief in the power of creativity to create change within individuals and wider communities led her to study Visual Art, Creative Writing, and Education. For the last 25 years, she has worked as a teacher in Primary, Secondary and Alternative Education settings.