Born on a dairy farm in South Auckland as one of nine children, she developed an early connection to the natural environment. The bush, rivers, farmland and sea continue to inform her work. After an initial career in landscape gardening, a physical injury led to a significant shift. At 50, she enrolled at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, beginning a four-year journey that would shape her direction as an artist.
There, Bernadette immersed herself in traditional Māori weaving, completing her Maunga Kura Toi (Bachelor of Māori Art). Guided by master weavers including Bibbins Tangitu and Rawhinnia Gray, she developed both technical skill and a strong cultural foundation that remains central to her practice.
Harakeke sits at the heart of her work. Valued for its strength, versatility and connection to the whenua, it is carefully harvested from the Auckland Botanic Gardens, with future supply coming from plants now growing in Whangamatā. Many of these originate from Aotearoa’s National Harakeke Collection, developed from weaving varieties gathered from marae across the country in the 1950s. Her preferred variety, Taeore, is known for its length and supple leaf, supporting refined and enduring forms.
Her work draws on the sensory qualities of her surroundings, from coastal light to textured bush and open farmland. The result is weaving that feels both grounded and expressive, honouring tradition while sitting comfortably within contemporary spaces.
