Ariana Tikao is a singer, composer, leading player of taonga puoro (Maori instruments) and New Zealand Arts Laureate. She writes waiata exploring themes relating to her Kai Tahu identity and mana wahine, often drawing upon historical korero from her ancestors. She has three critically acclaimed solo albums, performs with the art music quartet Tararua, and runs the independent label Oro Records NZ with Alistair Fraser and Ruby Solly. She also collaborates regularly with other artists such as Louise Potiki Bryant and Paddy Free and their current work Te Taki o Te Ua is scheduled for a Maori Moving Image exhibition at The Christchurch Art Gallery, Te Puna o Waiwhetu in June 2022.

Ariana Tikao are:

Tararua (Alistair Fraser, Ruby Solly, Ariana Tikao, Phil Boniface)
Other collaborators include: Ben Lemi, Brooke Singer, Paddy Free