Ngaio Cowell (Ngaati Te Ata Te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whātua) is based in Ōhinehou. Working under the name Tipu Toi, Ngaio primarily works within the realm of Te Whare Pora, which encompasses all the traditional Māori weaving disciplines. She likes to work with te taiao in mind using natural dyes and resources. Recently, she has designed large scale art pieces for her iwi in Taamaki and SCAPE in Ōtautahi, that have been inspired by weaving.
She lectures and teaches at different Universities, focussing on te Ao Māori and Indigenous Studies. As an Eat NZ Kaitaki she works with sharing Māori food stories about kai sovereignty. Ngaio also works with Josh Hunter ((Ngāti Tūwharetoa)) on an accessible kai kaupapa called Boil Up, that focuses on reconnection and food memories.
