Mahea Tomoana was born and raised in Waipatu, Hastings. He was educated at Mangateretere Primary School and Karamu High School. He continued his studies in Business Studies at Massey University. He worked at Marsden Point Oil Refinery construction, and other labouring and freezing works jobs. In 1980 he studied real estate and valuation at university. He returned to Hastings in 1987 and began to further develop his art and business skills by setting up a studio and screen printing business. From 1989-1992 he was the Hastings Community Arts Worker, a role in which he promoted local artists. He then became an iwi arts promoter for Kahungunu until 1994. He wrote non-fiction articles about Māori art issues in Kahungunu. He is planning to write a calendar resource on nature.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Mahea Tomoana in Aug. 1998.
- Tomoana, Mahea Raerena. "Creating A Healthy City." Arts Times Autumn 1989: 21.