EMMA BAKER
Ko tenei tōku pepeha poto i te taha o tōku māmā
Ko Kahurānaki rāua ko Pūtauaki ōku maunga
Ko Tukituki rāua ko Rangitaiki ōku awa
Ko Takitimu rāua ko Mataatua ōku waka
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga rātou, ko Ngai Tūhoe, Ko Ngāti Awa ahau
Ko Houngarea rāua ko Te Mapou ōku marae
Ko Te Pakipakitanga ā Hinetemoa te papakainga
No Pakipaki rāua no Te Teko ahau
Ko Ben tōku hoa tāne, tokotoru āku tamariki
Nō Te Matau a Maui ahau engari, kei te noho ana ai ki Waiatarua, ki Te Uru o Tamaki Makaurau
Kei te mahi ahau i te kaiwhaakahua me kaitohu auahatanga
Ko Emma Baker tōku ingoa
Kia ora. I’m Emma, a photographer and director based in te uru o Tāmaki Makaurau, West Auckland. I live and work in a beautiful part of the world surrounded by the dappled light of Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa, the Waitākere Ranges forest and not far from the wild beaches of the West Coast. It’s a constant source of inspiration and the perfect backdrop for the camera.
Sustainability and ethics are a constant feature in my kaupapa, with my clients all on a similar path, building on principles such as whanaungatanga and kaitiakitanga in their business practices, teams and, ultimately, their brands.
My interests and upbringing have always centred around these things, but it wasnt until I started my own whanau that I began to see what this all meant and how it showed up in my every day.
I’m 3 years into my Te Reo Māori journey and have finished a postgraduate programme in Leading Change for Good. As I’ve thought more about who I am as a māmā, wahine, and the footprint I want to leave behind me, it’s shaped how I step forward in my personal life, professional work and the spaces I put myself in.
Music is a massive part of our life, too - we currently have a bass player, pianist and a drummer in the family. Sadly, I’m best known for my impromptu kitchen bands, car parties and spontaneous singing of the wrong lyrics. My other loves and muses, if you will, are my whanau and friends. I’ll always advocate for the belief that everyone - especially rangatahi, deserves to see themselves represented and celebrated. That we can use our creative vices as a powerful tool for transformation. Though all the kids use my words against me on the regular, reminding me that I tell everyone they’re welcome anytime - and our door is always open. They are right. Nau mai ki tōku ao.