Rose grew up in the Akatarawa Valley in Upper Hutt with Scottish and English ancestry. Their family were some of the first people to colonise the Hutt Valley.

The youngest of five children Rose attended Catholic education and Church in their formative years, with the parish being a focus for the family.

The home which was shared with their maternal grandparents, was constantly open to family and friends who needed respite, support, and community. Hosting countless celebrations, hangi, hui, and memorials over the past 60 years where Rose learned about mānakitanga and the power of bringing people together.

Rose’s parents worked in education and social work, where acts of service were at the core of their daily life, this largely influenced Rose’s working style, especially in how they related to marginalised people.

Rose’s connection with Te Ao Māori was seeded at Ōrongomai Marae as a child and was deepened by attending Toi Whakaari, where they met and began working with amazing Māori and Pacific artists. This transformed how they saw the world. Rose became committed to using their privilege as a pākehā artist to question all institutionalisation in the fight to decolonise all people and systems.