Misa Emma Kesha

Misa Emma Kesha (born ) She started weaving as a child influenced by her mother and grandmother. Kesha came to New Zealand in 1958 and initially lived in Auckland in Ponsonby.

Kesha was invested in organisations to further Pacific culture and weaving. She was a member of the PACIFICA organisation (formally the Pacific Women's Council) and attended the eighth annual conference in Wellington in 1983. In 1983 she set up the Multicultural Weavers Association in Dunedin.

Kesha has tutored and exhibited in New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Nouméa, New Caledonia and Australia.

In 2002 Kesha was the University of Canterbury Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies Artist in Residence and created an installation called Siva Siva Maia: Come Dance with me.

Kesha was one of 100 artists to represent New Zealand at the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Solomon Islands in July 2012.

Honours and awards Kesha was awarded the chieftain title Misa in recognition of service to her family and community in Samoa in 1998. She was the first woman in her family to receive this title.

Personal life Kesha married Harry (Hira) Kesha in 1961.