About Us

AT KOROWAI DESIGNS

Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Waikato Maniapoto, Rereahu nga iwi
Ko Ngati Hari te hapu
Ko Kikurangi te maunga
Ko Taringamotu te awa
Ko Hia Kaitepeka te marae
Ko Tako Henare Houpapa toku Matua
Ko Irene Aorangi toku whaea The cost
Ko Tui Jackson toku ingoa
Kia Koutou katoa.

Initially we made just for friends and whanau. Soon our Contemporary designs became popular and our creative arts became a business in 2025. We wanted to make a difference in the world, to leave this world a better place for our mokos. 

Our whaea makes traditional korowai, treasured taonga. It takes a year to make, and involves a lot of mahi and time. They are expensive, but fair considering the time and mahi involved. But still out of the reach of most whanau.

Our answer for whanau was to make Contemporary Korowai/Kakahu Huruhuru. These Korowai/Kakahu are quicker to make, and sold at reasonable prices that whanau can afford. To assist whanau, with our vision, we have  instituted a Laybye system where whanau pay $10 a week, no admin charge til Taonga is paid.

So we began making Contemporary Korowai for our whanau. However, we noticed a change occurred when whanau wore our Korowai at weddings, birthdays graduation and on special occasions. They stood tall with chin up…..proud to be Maori, proud to stand tall in their mana, their culture, their heritage.  And their whanau cried. Touching moments….. Transformation moments.

And so our vision became “ A Korowai for every Whanau” this is the Cornerstone, the foundation in which we started our business.
We are delighted that our Korowai and taonga  can  help inspire, uplift and empower whanau to be proud of their heritage, to own their Tino Rangatiratanga…… stand tall in their Mana…..

Whanau are important to us, and our taonga makes a difference to whanau. We are humbled to be part of this journey for all Maori to reclaim our Tino Rangatiratanga. To stand tall in our own mana.