Whānau | Our People

PHOTO CAPTION: Gifting of a karakia to government representatives as part of the Rheumatic Fever Co-Design Initiative (2023) by members of Tuakana Teina alongside other partners who contributed to the kaupapa.

We’re a Kaupapa Māori design agency.

Our purpose is to create a better Aotearoa New Zealand by designing by Māori, with Māori and for Māori.​

We’ve designed Tuakana Teina using the same approaches that we offer to clients. We are guided by Māori worldviews and values, we uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and we centre on the aspirations and dreams of Māori. We use 100% of our profits to enable the next generation of Māori designers.

Tīma | Our Team

  • KATARAINA DAVIS

    Kaiwhakahaere Matua | Founder
    Ngāti Whatua Orakei, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu

  • PAORA DAVIS

    Kaumātua
    Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Hauā

  • TE AMOHANGA RANGIHAU

    Te reo Māori me ōna tikanga
    Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou

  • CARA RYAN

    Kairaranga | Enabler and Comms
    Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Whanaunga, me ngā Moutere o Hāmoa me Tonga.

  • MATTHEW MULLANY

    Kaitohutohu | Kairangahau
    Ngāti Pārau, Ngāi Te Ruruku, Ngāti Matepū, Ngāti Hāwea, Ngāi Te Whatuiāpiti, Kuki Airani

He Haerenga | Our Journey

Ngā Mātāpono | Our Design Principles

MĀ TE ORA O TE KOTAHI, KA ORA TE KATOA.

By the vitality of one, comes the vitality of all.

MANA ŌRITE.

That our process will enable mana ōrite, and shared responsibility will be understood and applied resulting in shared access.

WE REMEMBER -
KEI ROTO I Ō TĀTOU RINGA TE RONGOĀ.

For us all to remember that we have healing properties in our fingertips.

WE COMMIT TO A PROCESS THAT LEAVES OUR WHĀNAU BETTER OFF.