Grace Iwashita-Taylor, breathing bloodlines of Samoa, England and Japan. An artist of upu/words led her to the world of theatre. Dedicated to carving, elevating and holding spaces for storytellers of Te Moana nui a Kiwa. Recipient of the CNZ Emerging Pacific Artist 2014 and the Auckland Mayoral Writers Grant 2016, Writer in residence at the University of Hawaii 2018, Co-Founder of the Rising Voices and the South Auckland Poets Collective and published collections Afakasi Speaks & Full Broken Bloom with ala press, Hawaii. Writer of MY OWN DARLING (2015 & 2017 Auckland Theatre Company) and Curator of UPU (Auckland Arts Festival 2020).