THE COHORT
[ Architects of the Narrative ]
[ Architects of the Narrative ]
ARC Narrative Wear is a Māori-led collective of researchers, creatives, and storytellers working where streetwear, whakapapa, and mixed reality meet. We weave the digital thread into our garments to build sovereign "Phygital" assets.
Our philosophy follows a simple but powerful pattern we call the 9² Methodology. Every major ARC drop is built on this rhythm:
ARC Narrative Wear isn’t traditional merch. It’s a living, high-tech, grassroots ecosystem where every garment, story, and scan strengthens our digital and physical sovereignty.
Creator / Concept Artist
Creator of ARC Narrative Wear, a narrative-driven streetwear brand, Dr Thomas Clark is a Māori concept artist, tā moko practitioner and digital creative with over two decades of experience.
He holds a degree in Contemporary Māori Art, a Master’s in Creative Professional Practice and a PhD in Māori Philosophy, exploring how blockchain and Web3 technologies can help protect Māori knowledge.
His creative practice includes conceptual digital design, tā moko, kirituhi, graphic art and painting. A dedicated gamer and proud father, he brings strong illustration skills, cultural design expertise and a deep commitment to indigenous storytelling.
Distinguished Broadcaster
Dr Julian Wilcox (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa) is a distinguished New Zealand broadcaster renowned for his contributions to Māori media and current affairs. Fluent in both Te Reo Māori and English, he has dedicated his career to promoting Māori perspectives within the media landscape.
Wilcox was a founding member of Whakaata Māori (Māori Television), playing a pivotal role in shaping the channel's direction. He gained prominence as the host of the award-winning current affairs program "Native Affairs," earning acclaim for his insightful reporting. In 2012, his excellence in journalism was recognised with the Qantas Best Current Affairs Presenter award.
Beyond television, he has served as the Chief Officer of Operations for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and currently hosts "Māpuna" on RNZ National and "The Hui," focusing on issue-based dialogue and fostering understanding across Aotearoa.
Tohunga Tā Moko / Researcher
Dr Turumakina Duley (Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Ngaiterangi) is a tohunga tā moko, researcher, and founding member of the Kiritai collective, and Te Whāriki Takapau Online Kura Tā Moko.
A graduate of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, his doctoral thesis examined the systematic disruption of Māori rites of passage through colonial assimilation and the contemporary revival of tā moko as a site of cultural restoration. His research provides a kaupapa Māori-led framework for understanding moko as sequenced ritual initiation (ahi tapu: Te Ahi Mānuka).
His practice is grounded in kōrero tuku iho, activating whakapapa as both source and structure. He delivers wānanga on moko and rites of passage, bridging academic research and community practice to support whānau navigating the journey to moko kanohi with understanding, preparation, and purpose.
Dr Turumakina's work contributes to the growing body of mātauranga Māori-led scholarship on cultural restoration, decolonisation, and the revitalisation of indigenous rites of passage.
Transmedia & AI Storyteller
Dr Te Anga Nathan is a transmedia storyteller working at the intersection of mātauranga Māori and artificial intelligence.
With over 30 years’ experience in media and communications, and doctoral research focused on culturally grounded digital practice, he develops frameworks that position tikanga and Indigenous knowledge as foundational to how emerging technologies are designed, applied, and evolved.