Born in Rotorua in 1961, Paerau studied at Waiariki Polytechnic, graduating with a Diploma in Craft Design in 1990 and Graduated with a Masters Maori Visual Arts Massey 2009.

Two constants in my work are sculptural works in clay and more structural forms in fibre. Ongoing themes involve te uha, the female element; mana wahine and images beyond the narrow definitions of the ‘puhi complex’. Paerau is a foundation member of Nga Kaihanga Uku, a national Maori Clayworkers Collective. She currently lives and works in Palmerston North.