Mina Ripia

Ripia was born and grew up in Northland, in the small town of Te Kōpuru.^[2] She was an original member of the group Moana and the Moahunters.^[3] In 1999, she formed a Māori electronica group named Wai, which only performs in Māori.^[1][4]

In 2013, Ripia formed a Māori a cappella group, Whiri Tu Aka.^[5]

Ripia and her partner Maaka McGregor co-founded an audio production company, Minaaka, which specialises in producing Māori language audio products.^[5]