ko mauao te maunga
ko rereatukahia te awa
ko tauranga te moana
ko mataatu, takitimu ōku waka
ko ngāi te rangi, ngāti ranginui ōku iwi
ko ngāi tamawhariua tōku hapu
Ko EHETERE rua ahau

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Ehetere Rua is a neurodivergent multi-disciplinary artist based on the outskirts of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, of Māori (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui) and European (Cornwall, Normandy) descent. Her work navigates the complexities of identity, using creative expression as a method of connection, communication and care – she pursues the embodiment of her community role as a storyteller and guide.

ehetere has learnt, taught and performed dance across aotearoa for over a decade, becoming well-known by dance alias ‘enigma’, from hawkes bay crew ‘salt’ in 2017 to nz champ duo ‘cheqmate’ representing in paris, france 2024. she has directed, produced and performed two theatre works to date ‘essence’ 2024 and ‘existence’ 2025. she is currently working on her debut dance film ‘project enigma’ (coming to aotearoa street dance film festival 2025).

In the realm of visual art, her striking surrealist potraiture and multi-media kete artworks have been exhibited in spaces across aotearoa in solo and group exhibitions such as the grey – grey lynn, lakehouse arts takapuna, the factory theatre onehunga, cityside baptist church, the carlton gallery katikati, hastings community arts centre, boyd-dunlop gallery napier, more than moves creative space wellington. focusing her energies to pursue film nowadays – her first solo exhibition ‘hine Ngaro’ remains an open virtual exhibtion viewable here.

career highlights:

• (DANCE) Ladi6 ‘The Sixxes’ 2025 – Waitangi day, synthony, ladi6 ‘le va’ Album release tour.
• skycity RANGatahi residency intake 2025 at the factory theatre/kete aronui 2025, funded by creative nz toi tipu rea early career fund.
• (VISUAL ARTS) DYSPLA_Motion exhibition collaborator @ massey university 2025
• (DANCE) ‘prowl’ (two seasons – the basement theatre 2024, fringe 2025) by prowl productions.
• (Dance) AOTEAROA New ZEALAND representative @ Fusion concept paris, france 2024
• (Visual Art) Solo Exhibition ‘hine-ngaro’ 2021 @ the carlton gallery, katikati
• (DANCE) Spotlight ‘Godspeed’ guest choreographer 2021
• (Dance) putahi festival opener 2021
• (FILM) ‘Whina’ feature – Art department 2020
• (Dance) SDNZ 2017 Finalists ‘Salt dance crew’