Ko au

Ko Whangatauatia te Maunga 

Ko Roma te Marae 

Ko Karirikura te Moana 

Ko Tinana te Waka 

Ko Te Rarawa te Iwi 

Ko Georgina Lidgard ahau

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Kia ora e hoa ma, nau mai ki Tokena Tribe.

Our story begins during the second cycle of COVID-19, when barriers separated Tāmaki Makaurau from the Far North. I had moved back home to my papakāinga to care for my Nan and her brother. Feeling the need to connect with my community and culture, my dad encouraged me to get involved at our marae.

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That's when I connected with my cousin Marewa, who was in my bubble. While I initially thought I'd learn raranga (weaving), I found myself captivated by the tāniko patterns she was weaving into her kākahu. Tāniko quickly became my obsession. Marewa taught me this knowledge from our tupuna, and during those long weeks in lockdown, it consumed my thoughts. It wasn't just about the weaving—it was about connecting to my tūpuna and our rich heritage.

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I wanted to share this Māori toi with the world, and that’s when inspiration struck. One day, I looked down at a pair of socks a friend had brought me from his travels, and I had an epiphany. What better way to showcase tāniko than through something we wear every day? That’s how Tokena Tribe was born—fusing traditional Māori designs with modern clothing.

From a sketch on math paper to my first pair of socks, Tokena Tribe is my way of sharing the beauty and history of tāniko, and I hope to make you fall in love with it too.

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Ngā mihi nui,
GL