TANGAROA
TE KAITIAKI O TE MOANA
Tangaroa is the kaitiaki of the moana — the great realm of the oceans, rivers and waterways. In Māori tradition, Tangaroa reminds us that water is not simply something we use, but something we are connected to and responsible for.
The Tangaroa Kettle brings this kōrero into the everyday home. As water is transformed into warmth, the vessel becomes a small reminder of our relationship with the moana, whakapapa and kaitiakitanga.
TOHORĀ & WHAI — THE TWO GUARDIANS OF TANGAROA
Far out in the great ocean lived Tohorā, the mighty whale. He was a traveller of the deep, moving through the great waters of Tangaroa.
Down below, where the sunlight became dim, lived Whai, the stingray. Whai moved quietly across the ocean floor, watching, waiting and keeping a careful eye on the world below.
Tohorā travelled the great ocean. Whai guarded the waters beneath him.
They were very different — one was great and powerful, the other quiet and watchful — but both belonged to the great realm of Tangaroa.
And when these two guardians met upon the pathways of the ocean, what do you think they saw?
That is where their story begins...
THE DEEPER KŌRERO
THE ANCESTRAL STORIES OF TOHORĀ & WHAI
Beneath the waters of Tangaroa live stories passed down through generations — stories of whakapapa, guardianship, courage and the enduring connections between the ocean, the land and our tūpuna.
Here, we explore the deeper pūrākau of Tohorā and Kauri, the sacred protection of Whai, and the great journeys guided by the guardians of Tangaroa.
TOHORĀ & KAURI — THE TWO BROTHERS
Long ago, according to the pūrākau, Tohorā and Kauri lived together upon the land as brothers.
But Tohorā grew weary of being hunted and felt the great ocean calling him. He invited Kauri to journey with him into the waters of Tangaroa.
Kauri chose to remain upon the whenua, standing tall with Papatūānuku.
Before they parted, the brothers exchanged gifts. Tohorā gave Kauri his skin, providing protection for the great tree. Kauri gave Tohorā his rich oil, helping him remain warm in the cold ocean.
And although one brother remained upon the land and the other travelled into the sea, their connection was never broken.
For distance cannot separate those who remain connected through whakapapa.
WHAI: THE SACRED SHIELD OF TANGAROA
Long ago, within the vast waters of Tangaroa, lived Whai, the stingray — a quiet guardian of the ocean floor.
When Tūmatauenga waged war against the creatures of the sea, the fish scattered through the waters, searching for safety.
Tangaroa bestowed upon Whai special gifts of protection.
Her body became broad and flat, allowing her to settle quietly upon the seabed. Her colouring blended with the sand, concealing her from danger. And upon her tail she carried a sharp spine to defend herself when threatened.
But Whai's greatest strength was not in attacking others.
It was in knowing when to remain still, when to move and when to protect.
Beneath the shifting waters, Whai became a symbol of patience, awareness and guardianship — watching over the hidden pathways and sacred boundaries of Tangaroa's realm.
For the greatest guardian is not always the strongest or the loudest, but the one who knows what must be protected.
TOHORĀ — THE GREAT KAITIAKI OF THE OCEAN
Across the vast waters of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the great tohorā have long held a special place in the stories of our tūpuna.
They were more than mighty creatures of the ocean. In ancestral traditions, they could be guides, protectors and guardians of those who travelled upon the sea.
One such story tells of Paikea, also known as Kahutia-te-rangi, who was saved from the waters and carried to safety by a great whale. His journey became part of the ancestral traditions remembered by his descendants.
Other kōrero speak of four great tohorā who guided the sacred waka Tākitimu through the ocean, protecting its journey across powerful currents and restless seas.
These stories remind us that our tūpuna understood the ocean as a living world of relationships, where people, creatures, ancestors and the forces of nature were deeply connected.
The tohorā travelled beneath the waves, while our tūpuna travelled above them.
And through the great ocean, their pathways came together.
For those who journey across Tangaroa's waters never travel without a connection to the world beneath them.
NGĀ PŪRĀKAU TUKU IHO — THE ANCESTRAL STORIES
TOHORĀ & KAURI — THE BROTHERS OF LAND AND SEA
An MHD narrative retelling of the pūrākau
Long ago, before Tohorā travelled the great oceans and before Kauri stood as a towering guardian of the forest, the two brothers lived together upon the whenua.
They shared the warmth of the sun, the breath of the winds and the life that surrounded them upon Papatūānuku.
But as time passed, Tohorā grew troubled.
He had become weary of being hunted. The land no longer felt like a place where he could live in peace.
And far beyond the shoreline, the great waters of Tangaroa called to him.
One day, Tohorā turned to his brother.
"Come with me, Kauri. Beyond the land lies a great ocean, wide and deep. There we may find another home."
But Kauri looked upon the whenua beneath him.
His roots belonged to Papatūānuku. He felt the strength of the earth holding him, and he knew that his place was among the forests.
"My brother," Kauri replied, "your journey lies with Tangaroa, but mine remains here upon the land."
Tohorā understood, although the thought of leaving his brother filled him with sadness.
Before they parted, the brothers exchanged gifts.
Tohorā gave Kauri his skin, so that his brother would carry a strong outer covering to protect him through the changing seasons.
Kauri gave Tohorā his rich oil, so that he could remain warm when travelling through the cold and distant waters.
And so the brothers separated.
Kauri remained upon the whenua, growing tall beneath Ranginui, his roots reaching deep into Papatūānuku.
Tohorā entered the great ocean, where he would travel beneath the waves of Tangaroa.
Generations passed.
The forests grew, and the oceans continued their endless movement.
Yet the gifts of the two brothers remained with them.
The great Kauri carried his protective outer covering, while Tohorā carried the warmth that helped him survive the cold seas.
Though one belonged to the forest and the other to the ocean, their connection endured.
And so their story reminds us that the whenua and the moana are not separate worlds.
They are bound together through relationships, through the gifts of nature and through whakapapa.
THE DEEPER MEANING
The pūrākau of Tohorā and Kauri teaches us about belonging, change, generosity and the connections that remain even when our pathways separate.
Kauri stands upon the land.
Tohorā journeys through the sea.
Yet neither has forgotten the other.
FOR THE LAND AND THE OCEAN MAY BE SEPARATED BY THE SHORE, BUT THEIR WHAKAPAPA REMAINS CONNECTED.
WHAI — THE SACRED SHIELD OF TANGAROA
An MHD narrative retelling of the pūrākau
Long ago, beneath the rolling waves of Tangaroa, the ocean was home to countless living creatures.
Some swam in great schools beneath the sunlight. Others sheltered among the rocks and reefs, while many lived in the quiet depths where little light could reach.
Among them was Whai, the stingray.
Whai was not the largest creature in the ocean, nor the fastest. But she belonged to Tangaroa's realm, and she had a place within the great balance of life beneath the waves.
Then came a time of conflict.
In the pūrākau, Tūmatauenga, the atua associated with war and humankind, waged war against the creatures of the sea.
The waters became unsettled.
Fish scattered through the ocean, searching for shelter. Some fled into the deeper waters, while others hid among the rocks and beneath the coral.
Whai, too, needed a way to survive.
Tangaroa bestowed upon her gifts suited to the world she inhabited.
Her body became broad and flat, allowing her to rest close against the seabed.
Her colouring helped her blend into the sand and shadows, where she could remain hidden from danger.
And upon her tail she carried a sharp spine, a means of defending herself when threatened.
These were not gifts for conquest.
They were gifts of survival.
Whai learned to move gently through the waters, her wide fins carrying her across the ocean floor.
When danger approached, she could settle into the sand, becoming almost invisible.
When the waters were peaceful, she moved quietly through her underwater home.
And when threatened, she possessed the means to protect herself.
Over time, Whai became a reminder that strength does not always announce itself.
Sometimes strength lies in patience.
Sometimes protection comes through awareness.
And sometimes the wisest guardian is the one who knows when to remain still.
THE DEEPER MEANING
In this telling, Whai represents the quiet strength of guardianship.
Her broad body, protective colouring and defensive spine remind us that every living creature has its own place and its own means of survival.
The story invites us to think about the responsibilities of kaitiakitanga — to watch carefully, respect boundaries and protect the living world without causing unnecessary harm.
Whai belongs to Tangaroa.
And Tangaroa's realm reminds us that even the quietest creatures have an important place in the great ocean.
THE GREATEST STRENGTH IS NOT ALWAYS THE POWER TO FIGHT, BUT THE WISDOM TO KNOW WHAT MUST BE PROTECTED.
TOHORĀ — THE GREAT KAITIAKI OF TE MOANA-NUI-A-KIWA
An MHD narrative retelling inspired by ancestral traditions
Long before the great ships of the modern world crossed the Pacific, our tūpuna travelled the vast waters of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
They journeyed beneath the stars, guided by their knowledge of the winds, ocean currents, celestial pathways and the living world around them.
Beneath their waka moved the great creatures of Tangaroa.
Among these were the tohorā — the mighty whales whose journeys carried them across the great ocean.
In the traditions of our people, tohorā could be more than creatures of the sea.
They could also be remembered as kaitiaki, guardians whose presence connected the journeys of humankind with the realm of Tangaroa.
PAIKEA — THE JOURNEY OF THE WHALE RIDER
Among the ancestral stories of the East Coast is the journey of Paikea, also known as Kahutia-te-rangi.
In versions of this pūrākau, Paikea faced great danger upon the ocean after being cast into the waters.
Far from land, surrounded by the vast sea, his survival seemed impossible.
But the story tells of a great whale that carried him through the ocean towards safety.
Across the rolling waves they travelled, until Paikea eventually reached the shores of Aotearoa.
His journey became an important part of the ancestral traditions remembered by his descendants.
It is a story of survival, ancestral connection and the extraordinary relationship between people and the living ocean.
TĀKITIMU — THE GUARDIANS OF THE GREAT WAKA
Other ancestral kōrero associated with Tākitimu speak of four great tohorā who accompanied and guided the sacred waka across the ocean.
Imagine the great waka travelling beneath the night sky.
Above, the stars marked the celestial pathways.
Around the waka, the winds and currents moved across the surface of Tangaroa.
And beneath the waters, the great tohorā travelled along their own pathways through the deep.
In this telling, their presence reminds us of the spiritual relationships through which our tūpuna understood their ocean journeys.
The waka travelled above the waves.
The tohorā travelled beneath them.
And both belonged to the great world of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
THE DEEPER MEANING — THE OCEAN THAT CONNECTS US
These ancestral accounts remind us that the ocean was never simply an empty distance between islands.
It was a world of life, knowledge, relationships and journeys.
Our tūpuna understood the importance of observing the natural world and respecting the creatures that inhabited it.
For Māori House Design, the image of Tohorā upon our Tangaroa kettle becomes a reminder of these relationships.
The artwork invites us to remember the great ocean, the journeys of our ancestors and our responsibilities towards the living world of Tangaroa.
THE OCEAN CARRIES THE JOURNEYS.
THE TOHORĀ CARRIES THE MEMORY.
THE PŪRĀKAU CARRIES THE KNOWLEDGE.
Meet our team
Behind Māori House Design Limited stands a whānau-led vision, guided by whakapapa, tikanga, creativity and innovation.
Our team brings together cultural knowledge, original Māori artistry, business leadership and the next generation of talent.
Together, we are building a company that honours our tūpuna while creating opportunities for future generations.
Preston Henare Whare
Founder & Director
Wetini Mitai Ngatai
National Cultural Advisor
Tatiana Jade Whare
Marketing & Brand Coordinator
Amber Charmayne Whare
Customer Service Manager
Tatiana Jade Whare
Marketing & Brand Manager
OUR ANCESTRAL BEGINNINGS — TE PŪTAKE
Our story begins long before Māori House Design Limited was established.
It begins with our tūpuna, their whakapapa, their relationship with the whenua, the waters of Te Arawa and the living world around them.
Through generations, our ancestors carried knowledge, artistry, tikanga and traditions that continue to shape who we are today.
From the forests of Tāne Mahuta to the waters of Tangaroa, from the mountains surrounding Rotorua to the ancestral island of Mokoia, these connections form the foundations of our identity.
For Māori House Design Limited, our history is not simply something we remember.
It is something we carry forward.
Through original Māori artistry and modern innovation, we seek to honour the knowledge of our tūpuna and share their stories with future generations.
MOKOIA ISLAND — THE HEART OF OUR WHAKAPAPA
Mokoia Island stands in the heart of Lake Rotorua, surrounded by the ancestral waters and lands of Te Arawa.
For our whānau, Mokoia is more than an island. It is a place of whakapapa, belonging, ancestral memory and identity.
Our connections reach through the ancestral lines of Whakaue Kaipapa, Rangiuru and Ngāraranui, linking our whānau to the generations who came before us.
These connections remind us that whakapapa is not simply a record of names. It is a living relationship between our tūpuna, our whenua, our waters and the generations yet to come.
The Matariki stars above Mokoia, reflected in the waters of Rotorua, inspire the identity of Māori House Design Limited.
The island represents where we come from.
The stars remind us where we are going.
Together, they form a guiding vision for our company — honouring our ancestral foundations while creating something meaningful for future generations.
ROOTED IN PLACE. GUIDED BY THE STARS. BUILT FOR GENERATIONS.
Our collections — where whakapapa meets design
Explore thoughtfully crafted household appliances shaped by ancestral purākau, contemporary innovation, and distinctive Aotearoa artistry. Each collection embodies a sacred relationship between our living spaces, our heritage, and everyday rituals.
Our Story
Māori House Design Limited was born from a vision to bring the ancestral stories, artistic traditions and cultural knowledge of Māori into the homes of today.
Our journey begins with whakapapa, whenua, whānau and the living world around us.
Through original Māori artwork, contemporary design and modern technology, we seek to create household products that carry more than beauty and function.
Every collection has a story.
Every design carries meaning.
And every creation offers an opportunity to share the knowledge of our tūpuna with future generations.
ROOTED IN PLACE. GUIDED BY THE STARS. BUILT FOR GENERATIONS.
WHEN DARKNESS BECAME LIGHT — TE AO MĀRAMA
TĀNE MAHUTA — TE AO O TE NGAHERE
TĀNE MAHUTA — THE BREATH OF THE FOREST
From the embrace of Papatūānuku and Ranginui came the living world of Tāne Mahuta.
His roots reach deep into the earth, his branches stretch towards the heavens, and through the ngahere flows the breath of life.
Every tree carries a memory. Every leaf whispers a story. And every living creature belongs to the great family of the forest.
WHEN DARKNESS BECAME LIGHT — TE AO MĀRAMA
In the beginning, Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother, rested together in a loving embrace.
Between them, their children lived in darkness, longing for the warmth and light of the world beyond.
It was Tāne who placed his shoulders against Papatūānuku and pressed his feet against Ranginui, slowly lifting the heavens away from the earth.
And as Ranginui rose above Papatūānuku, the first light entered the world.
The darkness gave way to Te Ao Mārama — the World of Light.
From this great transformation, the forests flourished, the birds found their voices, and the living world began to grow beneath the heavens.
TĀNE MAHUTA — GUARDIAN OF THE LIVING FOREST
With the heavens lifted and light entering the world, the great forests of Tāne Mahuta began to flourish.
The mighty rākau stretched their branches towards Ranginui, while their roots remained embraced within Papatūānuku.
Within the ngahere, the manu found shelter, the insects found their homes, and the rivers carried life through the land.
The towering tōtara, the ancient kauri and the graceful rimu became living symbols of strength, endurance and connection.
To our tūpuna, the ngahere was never simply a collection of trees.
It was a living world of whakapapa, mauri and wairua — where every living thing held its own place within the great family of Tāne Mahuta.
And with this understanding came a responsibility passed from generation to generation: to care for the forest, so the forest may continue to care for us.
FROM THE NGAHERE TO THE HOME — THE TĀNE MAHUTA KETTLE
For Māori House Design Limited, the Tāne Mahuta kettle is more than an everyday household appliance.
It is a vessel inspired by the living world of the ngahere, carrying the story of Tāne Mahuta from the ancient forests of Aotearoa into the homes of future generations.
Its timber-inspired appearance reflects the strength and beauty of our native rākau, including tōtara and rimu.
Through original whakairo developed by Māori artist Wiremu Whare, the design will express the connections between Papatūānuku, Ranginui and the living forest.
As the kettle begins to warm, carefully integrated illumination is envisioned to bring the whakairo to life, symbolising the first light that entered the world when Tāne separated earth and sky.
Water becomes warmth.
Light awakens the forest.
And the ancient pūrākau finds a new place within the modern home.
Every cup shared becomes an opportunity for whānau to gather, to remember and to pass knowledge from one generation to the next.
This is the vision of Māori House Design — bringing our ancestral stories into everyday life while honouring the whakapapa, mauri and cultural knowledge from which they originate.
THE FOREST CARRIES THE LIFE.
THE WHAKAIRO CARRIES THE STORY.
THE PŪRĀKAU CARRIES THE KNOWLEDGE.
