Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ā Mātou Kōrero - Our Story

Ānuku — derived from Papatūānuku, our Earth Mother — embodies our deep connection to te taiao and the wisdom gifted to us through generations of mātauranga Māori.

Ānuku is more than a business; it is a taonga that has taken us on a journey of awakening, reconnection, and discovery. It is our hope that through our products, wānanga, and kaupapa, it will inspire the same journey for others.

At Ānuku, we weave together rongoā māori, Te Reo Māori, and everyday living. Our range of healing products incorporates traditional rongoā māori for the body, skin, and lips, while our collection of household items encourages the use of Te Reo Māori within the home through kupu Māori-labelled plant pots, kitchenware, bathroom accessories, and educational resources.

For generations, Māori have relied upon the healing properties of native plants and the mātauranga passed down by our Tūpuna. Our vision is to support the revitalisation and normalisation of both rongoā māori and Te Reo Māori in everyday life, while promoting a deeper connection to and protection of Papatūānuku.

Guided by our kaupapa of "Re-indigenising our spaces one kupu at a time," we believe that every word learned, every plant nurtured, and every connection made helps restore our connection to culture, language, and the natural world.

"I haere mai ahau i tawhiti-nui, i tawhiti-roa, i tawhiti-pāmamao, i te hono i te wairua, 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 Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Ko Wai Mātou

Together, we bring a unique combination of rongoā māori, mātauranga Māori, Te Reo Māori, design, community development, and business expertise. United by our shared passion for culture, learning, and connection, we are committed to creating meaningful products and experiences that inspire people to embrace te reo, reconnect with te taiao, and celebrate mātauranga Māori in everyday life.

Aaron Richards

Founder | Rongoā Practitioner | Wānanga Facilitator

Ngāpuhi – Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Kaharau

Aaron is the founder of Ānuku and leads the rongoā māori kaupapa. Deeply connected to te taiao and the mātauranga of his Tūpuna, he is passionate about sharing traditional knowledge in a way that is practical, accessible, and relevant for today.

As a rongoā practitioner and wānanga facilitator, Aaron guides participants through the identification, harvesting, and preparation of native rongoā while ensuring that tikanga and karakia remain at the heart of the practice. His approach encourages people to slow down, engage their senses, and develop a meaningful relationship with the ngahere and the taonga gifted by Tāne Mahuta.

Currently on his own journey of strengthening his Te Reo Māori, Aaron is passionate about learning and growing his confidence in the language. Alongside his commitment to rongoā māori, he supports the revitalisation of te reo Māori by encouraging others to embrace their own learning journeys and reconnect with their culture, their environment, and themselves.

Georgina Richards

Lead Product Designer | Operations Manager

Ngāpuhi – Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Kaharau

Georgina, affectionately known as Mumma G, is the creative force behind many our Ānuku designs, products, and educational resources. Through her love of creativity, storytelling, and lifelong learning, she creates taonga that encourage the everyday use of Te Reo Māori within homes, workplaces, and communities.

Currently on her own journey of language revitalisation, Georgina is a passionate learner of Te Reo Māori and believes that every kupu learned helps strengthen our connection to culture, identity, and whakapapa. This belief is reflected throughout her designs, which aim to make te reo visible, accessible, and part of everyday life.

Alongside her creative work, Georgina manages the operational and administrative functions of Ānuku, helping transform ideas into meaningful products and experiences. Her passion for design, connection, and sharing knowledge continues to shape the heart of the Ānuku kaupapa.

Karyn Marsh

Sales & Partnerships Manager | Cultural Advisor

Te Whānau a Rutaia, Te Uri o Hau | Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Whātua

Karyn brings a powerful combination of mātauranga Māori, community leadership, and commercial expertise to Ānuku. A fluent speaker of Te Reo Māori, she is passionate about language revitalisation, cultural identity, and creating opportunities that strengthen whānau and communities.

Her experience spans housing, wellbeing, mara kai initiatives, and the delivery of oranga-focused wānanga, where she has worked alongside whānau, hapū, and iwi throughout Aotearoa. Karyn is highly respected for her ability to build authentic relationships and create meaningful connections between people, kaupapa, and opportunity.

Alongside her community work, Karyn brings more than twenty years of sales and supply chain experience across the Asia-Pacific region. Within Ānuku, she provides cultural oversight, supports business development and partnerships, and helps ensure that our kaupapa remains grounded in tikanga Māori while continuing to grow sustainably for future generations.

He taonga nō te whenua, me hoki anō ki te whenua

He taonga nō te whenua, me hoki anō ki te whenua

He taonga nō te whenua, me hoki anō ki te whenua

He taonga nō te whenua, me hoki anō ki te whenua

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 tāngata whenua, 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!