Joy is a descendant of Te Atiawa, Ngati Tama, Ngati Rarua and Ngati Koata ki Te Tau Ihu. She lives in Motueka and is a mother of two. Joy spent a year weaving with the Puketapu-Hetet whanau from Waiwhetu in the year 2001 and has continued to weave and teach since then.

Joy’s involvement with Kono, a Maori Food & Beverage business, over the years has been in supporting the organisation in cultural wananga (seminars) and has also provided weaving pieces for a number of events and images over the years.

She is a shareholder and an Independent Board Director of Wakatu Incorporation of which Kono is a subsidiary business.