Te Manaia Jennings uses art to normalise conversations around mental health and celebrate her Indigenous heritage — Assembly

“I feel drawn to share the message with girls that they are strong enough to overcome things,” says the 21-year-old Māori artist.

When Te Manaia Jennings takes to the canvas, she paints to give voice to the topics she cares about — from normalising conversations about mental health to celebrating her Indigenous heritage. “Because of my life journey and the things I’ve experienced, I feel drawn to share the message with girls that they are strong enough to overcome things,” the Māori artist explains.

Te Manaia discovered her love of art after a childhood diagnosis of congenital scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine. “The medical condition I was born with allowed me to nourish my passion for art because I spent a lot of time alone in the hospital,” she explains. “Drawing and painting were forms of therapy. And as I worked on my craft my ambitions grew, and I began to see art as a possible career.”

Fighting stigma around mental health is personal for Te Manaia, who struggled with depression and anxiety after spinal surgeries related to her condition left her with chronic back pain and scars. As a young Māori woman, she has also seen the toll discrimination takes on her community’s mental health. “There is still a lot of racism in New Zealand towards Māori people, and that can cause a lot of anxiety and stress in our communities,” she explains. Te Manaia hopes through her art she can celebrate her heritage while also letting other Indigenous youth know it’s OK to talk about your emotional well-being.

Now 21, Te Manaia lives with her family in Rotorua, a small town in northern New Zealand, where she spends her time painting, caring for her younger brothers and going on adventures with her friends. “I really value all these experiences because they impact my art,” Te Manaia shares. “The more I can live my own life, the more diverse things I can create.” She also studies psychology at the University of Auckland, a decision she made in hopes of gaining the knowledge to help Māori people address mental health in their communities.

I spoke with Te Manaia about how painting helped her through chronic illness, the need for mental health education in New Zealand schools and honouring her Māori heritage through art.

Marielle Issa (MI): What was it like growing up in Rotorua?

Te Manaia Jennings (TMJ): Rotorua is a very touristy place. It's where a lot of people travel to visit because it’s got a lot of geothermal activity. It has a historical past, and it’s very known for all the stories it has — especially stories about Māori people. I am a Māori woman, so I really identify with those stories and draw a lot of strength from them. Growing up in Rotorua really encouraged my Māori culture and tongue; it’s part of the reason my heritage is so present in my art. I feel very blessed to be Māori. There’s so much richness in where I am from.

MI: How has your Māori heritage influenced your paintings?

TMJ: My Māori culture is a huge part of who I am. My people have fought so much to be here and I see so much strength in their history. They’ve been through colonization and they’ve had their land taken from them and have had to fight to survive. Their story needs to be recognized in some way, and I feel a responsibility to do it through my art.

I also think a lot of Māori people in New Zealand feel lost in life because they’re missing a piece of their identity. They don’t feel connected to their land or to their culture. And I think for me, art is a way to work through my identity crisis and help others work through theirs. Incorporating Māori designs and Māori stories into my work makes me feel connected to my people, and gives me the opportunity to learn more about my history.

“A lot of Māori people in New Zealand feel lost in life because they’re missing a piece of their identity. They don’t feel connected to their land or to their culture. And I think for me, art is a way to work through my identity crisis and help others work through theirs.”

— Te Manaia Jennings

MI: How did you find the courage to speak out about your mental health challenges?

TMJ: New Zealand has a really high suicide rate, especially among Māori men. That’s due to the toxic masculinity culture we have here — the idea that if men express their emotions they are weak. But I haven’t really seen anyone be outspoken in New Zealand about mental health, so I kind of thought: Why not me?

I think that when someone speaks up about their issues or opens up about what they’ve gone through, that’s true strength and courage. Because it’s hard to be honest like that, especially in a culture that is so oppressive. I saw an opportunity to be a voice for young people, especially young Māori people, and to normalize conversations around mental health and just say: “It’s OK to be sad. It’s OK to not always feel good. Everyone has bad days — and it’s honestly OK.”

MI: In your experience, how can self-expression through art help people heal from mental health challenges?

TMJ: I think when people are struggling it can be hard for them to communicate how they’re feeling. But it’s important to express pain in some shape or form or else it can be sickening for your body, mind and well-being. Painting was that outlet for me in the hospital, because I wasn’t able yet to talk about my emotions or the things I’d gone through.

Your art doesn’t have to be a direct reflection of what you're going through — it doesn’t have to be all dark and sad. But when you put your energy into something, it can be a form of therapy. That’s the cool thing about the creative arts: When you’re in a flow state and present in the moment, you can let your emotions out and express your pain. Just that alone is healing.

MI: What do you think leaders can be doing to better support girls and women who experience mental health challenges?

TMJ: I did this body image panel recently with six other women who struggle with body image, and that was the first time I felt supported and confident enough to voice my own struggles in front of a group of people. It was terrifying for me, but I felt very empowered. And it made me think: Why are we not having more of those discussions? Why are we not connecting with other women and talking about the things we all go through, but never actually talk about? I think leaders need to be creating events where women can come together, feel empowered by each other’s stories and encourage one another to seek out support, in whatever form that takes.

I also feel that schools in New Zealand should offer classes about body image, self-confidence and emotional intelligence. All those things are valuable and practical — essential things that girls need to get through their lives in the real world. I think it’s important to teach girls to feel empowered in their own skin, and to send the message that it’s OK to not like your body or to feel insecure sometimes because a lot of people feel the same way.

MI: Indigenous artists — especially female artists — are underrepresented in New Zealand’s galleries and museums. Has that bias affected you at all?

TMJ: I think I’m lucky in the sense that I was never influenced by that stigma or bias, so I was able to build my career without too much doubt. I think that’s really cool, because I hope I can now inspire other young Māori girls with creative aspirations to pursue what they love. Like, I remember being so taken aback when Taika Waititi won his Oscar. It was just so cool seeing a Māori man achieving great things because I think it encourages other Māori people to follow their dreams. Hopefully someone can look at me one day and feel that same way.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.