Elizabeth Ellis CNZM JP (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) is an outstanding Māori artist, advocate and educator whose contributions to Māori arts and culture span several decades. A graduate of The University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts in 1965, she has been a passionate advocate for Māori artistic expression both nationally and internationally. Elizabeth served on the New Zealand Arts Foundation and Creative New Zealand Council, and chaired Te Waka Toi, the Māori Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, from 1994 to 2006. She was also New Zealand’s representative on the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture, leading delegations to Samoa, New Caledonia, and Palau.

In 1995, she founded and led the Haerewa Māori Advisory Board at Auckland Art Gallery until 2021. With a background in art education and evaluation, Elizabeth was involved with the Education Review Office from 1990 to 2013. She established Toi Iho Charitable Trust, which certifies authentic Māori art, and the Wairau Māori Art Gallery, Aotearoa’s first public Māori art gallery. Currently, she is working on the establishment of the Māori Art Museum of Aotearoa (MAMA). Her leadership, cultural advocacy, and dedication as an educator continue to leave an indelible mark on New Zealand’s artistic and cultural landscape.