Ariana Tikao is a composer and performer of Kāi Tahu descent whose waiata bring to life ancestral stories. She is a passionate exponent of the indigenous musical instruments of Aotearoa and is committed to the ongoing project of celebrating and playing taonga pūoro. She is following in the footsteps of Hirini Melbourne, and two of her mentors, Richard Nunns and Brian Flintoff. Tikao began performing in 1993 with the folk group 'Pounamu', and branched out on her solo music career in the early 2000s. Last year she performed in and co-composed the soundtrack to Atamira Dance Company's work Onepū, which was based on an origin story that came from Tikao's great-grandfather. She has just been announced as one of seven 2020 Arts Foundation Laureates for 2020.