Donna McLeod 'lives on McLeod Bennett papakāinga in Motueka. As mana whenau her life is about kaitiakitanga and telling the stories of her people. She is a poet, a playwright, a writer, a creative and a strong advocate of Māori art. As a member of te Oro Hā, she has told stories of Parihaka for 20 years, Matariki, unveiling for those who passed during Covid and is currently working on Te Ramaroa and Nelson Tenths' for Nelson Arts Festival. She is a past member of Te Ohu Whakaari, has been published in several anthologies an don the day her poem 'Ihumatao' was published in The spinoff, Donna was there to tautoko the protest with her daughter and mokopuna.'
Biographical sources
- Te Awa o Kupu. Eds. Vaughan Rapatahana & Kiri Piahana-Wong. New Zealand: Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2023. 403.
Poetry
- Ihumatao. Te Rito o te Harakeke - A collection of writing for Ihumātao. Rangatahi o te Pene, 2019. Rpt in Te Awa o Kupu. Eds. Vaughan Rapatahana & Kiri Piahana-Wong. New Zealand: Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2023. 64-65.