Elizabeth Ellis has been a beacon for the arts for most of her life - and she was once again at the New Zealander of the Year gala awards night (Thursday 20 March).

Already a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, her tireless work as an artist and leader in Māori arts and education has landed Ellis the title of Senior New Zealander of the Year. 

At nearly eighty, her remarkable contributions to Māori arts span decades of pioneering work and advocacy, speaking up and standing her ground back when doors weren't just closed for indigenous artists in this country - they were often locked.

Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou)  told The Big Idea "I am Māori and I am proud to represent our Māori creatives in all disciplines, past, present and emerging.  This is a challenging and exciting time for us.

"I am never alone."

She adds"(this honour) makes all Kuia, Kaumatua, seniors, old people, visible.  It highlights the importance of Māori, our art and our culture."

Sharing the moment with Aotearoa success stories of all ages and stages of life makes it even more special for Ellis.

"As Kuia, Kaumatua, elders, and seniors, we must look to the future for our young ones. They are the most important generation for us. This Awards night recognises the diverse achievements of those of all ages in Aotearoa New Zealand and it is an exhilarating initiative which is why it is celebrated each year."  

Her path in Ngā Toi Māori has been a constant in her life from a young age - Ellis one of the many who fought to change the perception of Māori art and culture. Enter a classroom now and you will see te reo Māori on the walls, in the songs being performed and incorporated into their understanding of New Zealand culture.

That was not always the case.

"My career has focused on the arts since I was at school in Kawakawa, Northland. There were two professional careers for women then, nursing and teaching. I chose the latter although my mother - a registered nurse and midwife - wanted me to be a doctor! 

"I have balanced art and education all my life, as an artist, a cultural advocate, a teacher and an education evaluator. 

"There is no doubt that Māori art has gained traction so it is known and recognised nationally and around the globe. 

"In the sixties, Māori art was referred to by our Elam American Art Historians as 'Primitive Art' or relegated by the UN as craft or folklore. It took more than 100 years for Māori staff to be appointed to Elam, at the encouragement of our Maori Art Education Association of Aotearoa (MAEAA). 

"In the nineties, when I was Chair of Te Waka Toi, we tried to have a contemporary Māori Art Exhibition in the Serpentine Gallery, London and was referred to the British Museum. In fact that's where we ended up, in an exhibition alongside anthropological objects! 

"Individual Māori artists and collectives still seek recognition.  Their art reflects tribal narratives and struggles of indigenous people, our customs, beliefs and history. Our iwi, urban, marae and national cultural collectives such as Matatini, Toi Iho, and educational structures, TKR (Te Kōhanga Reo), KKM (Kura Kaupapa Māori), and Wānanga, grow stronger each year and so does our culture."   

Never one to rest on her laurels, Ellis has much more she wants to achieve in her already-storied career.

As the chair of the groundbreaking Wairau Māori Art Gallery in Whangārei, there is one driving ambition still at the forefront of her thinking.

"My current passion project is to build the stand-alone Māori Art Museum of Aotearoa, that I call MAMA.  Indigenous peoples such as those in the US and Canada and Norway and closer to home, New Caledonia, have their own versions of MAMA, and it is now time for us to establish our own wonderful Māori Art Museum of Aotearoa."

When Elizabeth Ellis sets out to make a difference, history shows you'd be mad to bet against her.