Willa Black Prints NZ - Māori Identity Art
Ko Tēnei Au - This Is Me
What the phrase means, why it matters for mixed heritage whether it be Māori and Pākehā, Asian and African, or any other multi-cultural background, and the artwork behind it.
Ko Tēnei Au means "This is me." But within this artwork, the phrase carries a deeper meaning - a statement of identity, belonging and self-acceptance, especially for those of mixed Māori and Pākehā heritage.
Simple, direct and deeply personal
In te reo Māori, "Ko Tēnei Au" can be understood as "This is me" or "This is who I am." It is simple, direct and deeply personal. For many people, identity is not something that fits neatly into one box - it can be layered, complex and shaped by whakapapa, whānau, whenua, culture and lived experience.
This phrase gives space to stand confidently in all parts of yourself. I am Māori. I am Pākehā. This is who I am. It does not ask you to choose, divide or explain. It simply holds space for the whole of who you are.
For some, this artwork may represent pride in dual heritage. For others, it may speak to reconnection, cultural confidence or quiet comfort.
Standing within both worlds
The Ko Tēnei Au Māori art print was created as a reflection on mixed heritage, identity and belonging. It honours the experience of standing within both worlds - Māori and Pākehā - without needing to divide, explain or justify who you are.
Whakapapa is not only about ancestry. It is about connection - to people, place, culture, language and the stories that shape us. In contemporary Māori art, those connections may appear through portraiture, typography, symbolism, colour or pattern. With Ko Tēnei Au, the words are intentionally central. The artwork does not over-explain. It simply holds space for identity to be seen.
Best for: anyone of mixed Māori and Pākehā heritage who wants their identity reflected visually within the home.
A quiet declaration of self, whakapapa and belonging. This print is part of Willa Black Prints' wider collection of Māori wall art, created to bring identity, language and Aotearoa storytelling into everyday spaces. The words sit centrally and intentionally - a statement that does not need to explain itself to hold meaning.
View Ko Tēnei Au →I know who I am.
I carry all parts of myself.
I am Māori.
I am Pākehā.
This is me.
"Māori identity art can do more than decorate a space. It can affirm, ground and reflect the people living beside it." Willa Black Prints
Why Māori identity art matters
Māori identity art can do more than decorate a space. It can affirm, ground and reflect the people living beside it. Artwork that carries te reo Māori, whakapapa and cultural meaning can help create homes that feel more connected to Aotearoa, whānau and personal story. This is especially meaningful for mixed-heritage whānau raising tamariki to feel proud of every part of who they are.
Where to display the Ko Tēnei Au print
This print works beautifully in spaces where identity and belonging matter most. It is ideal for bedrooms, hallways, nurseries, children's rooms, home offices, classrooms, counselling spaces and gallery walls - anywhere the quiet presence of the words can be felt every day.
A meaningful gift for a new chapter
It also makes a thoughtful gift for someone embracing their heritage, beginning a new chapter, reconnecting with te reo Māori or wanting artwork that feels deeply personal. The simplicity of the phrase means it speaks without needing further context - the right person will know exactly what it holds.
Contemporary Māori wall art for modern homes
Contemporary Māori art prints allow cultural storytelling to live naturally within modern interiors. They can be clean, minimal and stylish while still carrying emotional and cultural depth. Ko Tēnei Au sits comfortably in homes that want identity present without needing to dominate the room.
Explore the wider Māori wall art collection
Ko Tēnei Au is part of Willa Black Prints' wider collection of Māori wall art NZ, created to bring identity, language and Aotearoa storytelling into everyday spaces. That is what makes this artwork more than a print. It is a quiet declaration of self, whakapapa and belonging.
Willa Black Prints NZ
This is me. This is yours to hold.
Explore the Ko Tēnei Au print and the wider Māori wall art collection - made to order and shipped across NZ and Australia.
View Ko Tēnei Au