Hawaiki nui, Hawaiki roa, Hawaiki pāmamao
Great Hawaiki, Long Hawaiki, Far-distant Hawaiki
This well-known saying acknowledges the ancestral origins of Māori and the enduring connections between Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands.
For Māori, Hawaiki is remembered as the ancestral homeland where our tūpuna journeyed across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (The Pacific Ocean) to Aotearoa.
The Hawaiki Series was created to honour those connections between Aotearoa and the wider Pacific. Designed in collaboration with Polynesian artists Tuku Rangitaawa (Rarotongan, Māori) and Annabel Setefano (Samoan), the collection reflects the narratives of Polynesian navigation, migration, identity and belonging.
The Meaning of Hawaiki
Hawaiki is known as the homeland of our ancestors. Understood as a spiritual and ancestral place that features prominently within pūrākau and has been acknowledged for generations.
While interpretations differ between iwi and communities, Hawaiki remains an important reminder of where we come from and the journeys that brought our people to Aotearoa. Hawaiki represents connection; to our ancestors, our Polynesian whānau across the ocean, and to each other.
Navigating Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa
Polynesian navigators crossed the largest ocean using knowledge of the whetu (stars), manu (birds), winds, currents and environment. They explored throughout the Pacific, eventually arriving in Aotearoa. The Hawaiki Series acknowledges this legacy of courage, innovation, and deep environmental knowledge that continues to inspire us today.
The designs were developed in collaboration with Polynesian artists, Tuku Rangitaawa (Rarotongan, Māori) and Annabel Setefano (Samoan), applying their unique cultural perspectives and stories. The result is a collection that honours both our shared origins, with representations of traditional motifs, and a celebration of the diversity that exists within our Pacific communities.
Giving Back
The Hawaiki Series is also an opportunity to contribute to kaupapa that uplift our communities. Proceeds from the collection are donated to the BBM Just Move Charitable Health Trust, founded by community leader David Letele, supporting initiatives focused on improving health and wellbeing outcomes for whānau across Aotearoa.