The woman behind the moko
Ko Tainui te waka.
Ko Taupiri te maunga.
Ko Waikato te awa.
Ko Ngāti Tamaoho te hapū.Ko Mangatangi te marae.
Ko Te Wārena ahau.
He uri nō Waikato-Tainui, nō Ngāti Tamaoho.
Ko Wellington e noho ana.
Ko au tēnei.
I am the one who has lived a few lives in one lifetime an educator, hair and makeup artist, creative, mentor, māmā, and someone who believes deeply in lifting others as I rise.
My moko kauae is part of my story, my strength and my connection .Resilience. Integrity. Mātauranga. Whānau. Creativity.
Award Winner
Wellington Hairdresser of the year since 2010. Best freelance hair & makeup Artist. New Zealand International winner Health, beauty & wellness Award.
Prosthetic FX Arts
Prosthetic Makeup for Weta Workshop Production for 15 years. From working on the set of box office movies to showcasing his skills on stages with makeup, hair and FX Arts
Fashion Styling
Constantly working with New Zealand FashionWeek, and NZ Association of Registered Hairdressers & NZ Hair and Beauty Industry Training Organisation.
Into the Creativity
The mahi, the laughter, and all the stories in between
For more than 35 years I’ve worked across hair, beauty, education, film and television, creating, teaching, mentoring and sharing the knowledge I’ve gathered along the way. From the classroom to the film set, from our ākonga to international creative spaces, I’ve always believed that mātauranga is something to be shared.
I’m proud of where I’ve come from, proud of who I am today, and excited about where I’m going. There have been beautiful moments, bloody hard moments, grief, change, resilience, reinvention and plenty of fabulousness along the way.But through it all, I’ve remained me.
- FEATURED WORKS -
Into the Wonder
Here is what Sir Richard Taylor had to say
”
The art of Hair & Wig making is a fastidious and highly challenging profession. There are few practitioners in New Zealand that have dedicated themselves to this skill, requiring such tenacity and focus, and even fewer that then weave a heightened level of creativity into this art. However, Warren Dion Smith continues to achieve beautiful sculpture through the medium of hair with his incredible capabilities as a wig maker and artist.
These images are testament to the skill and expertise that Warren Dion Smith continues to wield through this art form.
- SIR RICHARD TAYLOR
Creative Director, Weta Workshop
Into the Transformation
Embrace my feminine beauty
Being on a creative and artistic journey has allowed me to truly express myself. I have always felt a vibrant energy within me, yearning to be shared with the world. It has been a challenge to embrace my feminine beauty and seek support to connect with it. However, the time has come for me to fully activate my true colors and authentic soul, embarking on a legendary rebirth with Te Warena. Embracing myself has proven to be the most significant decision I have ever made.
I feel absolutely fantastic and empowered. Starting my TikTok journey has provided me with a sense of belonging and acceptance, surrounded by love. I sincerely thank you for supporting me on this path, and I am dedicated to impressing you all with more incredible works.
BORN TO BE
Art. Identity. Transformation. Nurture. Legacy.
A podcast about the courage to become who you’ve always been.
- LISTEN ON -
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