Lily Aitui Laita

Lily Aitui Laita (1969-2023) was a pioneering Samoan and Māori artist, educator and cultural advocate whose contribution is deeply woven into the history of Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust. A founding member of Tautai, Laita was part of the first generation of Māori and Pacific artists to study fine art in Aotearoa, graduating from Elam School of Fine Arts in 1990 as its first Pacific woman graduate. She later completed a Diploma in Teaching and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting. 

Laita played an important role in Tautai’s early development, helping establish a space where Pacific artists could gather, connect and share their work. She served as Chairperson from 2002–2004, contributing her experience as an artist and educator to the organisation’s growth and advocacy. 

Her painting explored Samoan and Māori identity, language, mythology and memory, while her teaching influenced generations of young artists during more than three decades as Head of Art at Western Springs College. Laita’s enduring legacy lies in her contribution to Pacific arts, education and the collective community that Tautai continues to champion.