I am an architect at TOA Architects in Tāmaki Makaurau, with deep roots in the ancient lines of Tāmaki Makaurau, affiliated with Waikato-Tainui and Te Waiohua (Ngāti Te Ata/Ngāti Te Rori).

Raised in the ancient pā of Te Ihu a Mataoho under the guidance of my father, Te Rapata Rapata (former Chairman of Makaurau Marae for 29 years), and my grandfather, Rapata Te Huia Rapata, my upbringing has been steeped in the traditions of my ancestors.

After graduating from the Auckland University School of Architecture in 1993, I have dedicated my career to Māori architecture, advocating for te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and promoting Māoritanga in the architecture space across Aotearoa. In 1998, I was honoured to be nominated by the former Minister of Māori Development, Hon. Tau Henare, to serve as a Board member of the New Zealand Registered Architects Board, where I completed three terms.

In 2022, I enrolled in a PhD programme at Auckland University of Technology in the School of Design (Huri Te Ao), continuing my journey of exploring the intersection of Māori heritage and contemporary architectural practice.