Ngaroma Riley

Ngaroma (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Pākehā) is an artist and people connector based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. She’s the founder of Te Ana o Hine, a carving shed led by women based at Te Tuhi in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Ngaroma began her carving journey making buddhist statues while living and working in Japan. Since returning to Aotearoa in 2020, she has completed a Certificate in Whakairo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. In 2022 she built a storehouse for a sculptural installation at Kaitaia and was shortlisted for the 2023 Kingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award. In 2025, Ngaroma won the Molly Morpeth Canaday Major Art Award.

She is known for her karetao (hand-carved puppets) and love of chainsaws. 

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