Buck Nin (1942–1996) was a pioneering Māori-Chinese artist and an important figure in the development of contemporary Māori art in Aotearoa. Of Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa descent, with Chinese whakapapa through his father, Nin developed a distinctive painting practice that brought Māori visual traditions into dialogue with modernist abstraction.

His paintings drew on motifs from Māori carving, weaving and rafter patterns, transforming them into powerful geometric and lattice-like forms across expansive landscapes. His work explored the spiritual relationship between people, culture and whenua, often creating a sense of ancestral presence within the landscape.

Nin was also a significant educator and cultural advocate. He studied at Elam School of Fine Arts and the University of Canterbury, and in 1966 initiated New Zealand Māori Culture and the Contemporary Scene at Canterbury Museum, one of the early exhibitions to present contemporary Māori art. He later played an important role in the restoration of Rongopai, the historic painted meeting house associated with Te Kooti.

His influence extended beyond his own painting through teaching, advocacy and his contribution to the development of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Today, his work is held in major collections including Te Papa, Auckland Art Gallery, Christchurch Art Gallery and the University of Auckland.