Ā Mātou Kōrero - Our Story
Ānuku, Papatūānuku, Mother Earth, belonging to Te Taiao(The Natural World).
Ānuku is our taonga(treasure) and it has taken us on an awakening haerenga(journey) as we want it to do for you. Here at Ānuku we have incorporated Traditional Rongoā Māori(Māori Medicine) into everyday products for the tinana(body), skin, lips and more.
Traditionally Māori have been using te ngāhere tuturu ō Aotearoa(The true bush of New Zealand) for generations passed down through their tūpuna(ancestors). With their incredible knowledge of Te Taiao(The Natural World) they have discovered incredible healing properties within the ngāhere(bush) such as rāu(leaves), hinu(oils and fats), tapeha/pāpākiri(bark/scaly bark), wai māori(mineral water/freshwater) and wai rākau(decoction).
Aaron our Founder and Creator is the ngākau me wairua(heart and soul) of Ānuku, the connection he has with Tāne Māhuta(God of the forest), Papatūānuku(Mother Earth) and Ranginui(Sky Father) is something special.
He ensures Karakia(prayers), Mātauranga Māori(Māori knowlegde) and Maramataka(Māori Calendar) are followed to ensure the enrichment of the rongoā he has gathered and the products he has created. Aaron has a mission to normalise Rongoā Māori once again in everyone’s, everyday life.
Growing up in the Waikato and living in Tāmaki Makaurau Aaron was always emerged within Te Taiao(The Natural World). His parents ensured the teachings of being able to forage from the whēnua(land) and also from Tangaroa(The Sea), to be able to feed the whānau(family)but to also heal the whānau mentally, physically and spiritually. Aaron is proud to be Māori and to be continuing on the mahi(work) of his Tūpuna(ancestors).
I haere mai ahau i tawhiti-nui, i tawhiti-roa, i tawhiti-pāmamao, i te honoiwairua, i Hawaiki.
I came from great-distance, from a long-distance, from the very-distant places, from the gathering place of spirits, from Hawaiki.
Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua tōku waka
Ko Hokianga Nui A Kupe tōku moana
Ko Ngā Puhi Nui Tonu tōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Hau, Ko Ngāti Kaharau wōku hāpu
Ko Toukahawai tōku awa
Ko Puke Haua, Ko Puke Huia wōku maunga
Ko Te Pitii tōku marae
Ko Tai Tama Tāne tōku whare moe
Ko Mokai Awhina tōku whare kai
Ko Tapikitū, Ko Wherahia wōku urupa
Ko Ōmanaia tōku turangawaewae
Ko Aaron āhau
Te Oranga Tonutanga - Sustainability
At the heart of Te Ao Māori is the concept that people are closely connected to the land and everything on it. This connection is expressed through Kaitiakitanga(guardianship and protection of the environment).
As tangata whenua (people of the land), Māori see themselves as guardians of the earth, with the responsibility to care for, protect and maintain the environment for generations to come.
With more and more people becoming aware of the consequences to the environment, we want to assure our customers that every step has been taken in order to be as eco-friendly as possible! Our team here at Ānuku have ensured that there is minimal to zero waste in all aspects of our business. Therefore, you as a consumer do not need to stress about the impact on the environment when purchasing from us!
Ko au ko te taiao, Ko te taiao ko au.
I am the environment and the environment is me.