‘I am interested in the different roles of female atua (deities) in the present context – their relevance for Māori women today to bring the past and present together.’

Quicktime spin of Nga Tapuwai o Hine I Untitled 1989 Nga Tapuwai o Hine I From the 'Manawa' Series, 2003

Paerau’s work consciously builds a link between past and present. In creating images of wahine atua (female deities), she is rediscovering and reclaiming a history of women that she feels has been overlooked in written and oral history or deliberately edited out.

Paerau has commented that there are very few sculptural images of Māori women outside the marae (tribal community centre). Her work places a female interpretation of form back into a wider public arena.

The Manawa (heart) series of figures are hand built from clay coils. Paerau plans to continue with the Manawa figures, seeing them as having the potential to become larger works.

Paerau developed her interests in clay and fibre together. Both involve time-consuming processes such as harvesting and lengthy preparation of materials, and she enjoys the physical demands of working with them.