Zak Waipara (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāti Kahungunu) is a senior lecturer in Digital Communications, School of Communications, at Auckland University of Technology. A former graphic artist for the NZ Herald, and illustrator for Māori TV’s children’s show Miharo, Zak has also illustrated comics, a range of award-winning books, and created animated music videos. His practice-led doctoral research reimagined pūrākau Māori (creation narratives) via comics, picture books and narrative structures drawn from Indigenous storytelling.