ABOUT

We are Tawera and Kahutea — two brothers raised on the shores of Waiheke Island, grounded in our Māori identity and driven by creativity from day one.

Our father, Paora Toi Te Rangiuaia, is a Māori artist. Growing up, art wasn’t something we visited — it was something we lived with. His sketchbooks were always around, filled with kōrero, symbolism, and stories passed down through bloodline and time. That influence shaped how we see the world: art as identity, art as responsibility.

We whakapapa to Ngāti Porou, Where we come from a long line of artists and kaiwhakairo(carvers.) that connection to iwi, whenua, and whakapapa has always guided us — even when we didn’t yet have the language for it. Like many Māori kids, we learned how to move through different worlds, holding onto who we are while figuring out where we fit.

Starting a clothing brand together was something we always talked about. It wasn’t a “business idea” at first — it was a shared vision. A way to create something meaningful, together, that represented us properly.

In 2024, everything clicked.
After being gifted our tāmoko, we felt a deeper responsibility to carry our culture with intention. We asked ourselves: what if this art — this living identity — could move beyond skin and into clothing? What if people could wear culture with the same pride and mana?

That question became Whetu.

Every Whetu design is taken directly from our dad’s original sketches — straight from his hand, untouched, unwatered-down. This keeps the work authentic, whakapapa-connected, and true to its source. Nothing is copied. Nothing is trend-chased. Each piece carries real story.

The name Whetu reflects how we live and why we create — to shoot for the stars, to become the best version of yourself, and to move through the world with confidence and purpose.

Whetu isn’t about fashion for fashion’s sake.
It’s about identity.
It’s about legacy.
It’s about giving people something they can wear and feel.