Who We Are

Mohoao isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement, a reclamation, and a promise to my whānau.

I was born in Auckland, but my roots run deep in the whenua. My mum’s whānau, the Hoete and Akuhata, are from Motiti Island, Kawerau, and Whakatāne. My dad’s whānau, the Mare and Murray, come from the Far North—Ahipara, Pukepoto, Wainui, Whangapē and more!. We are people of the land and the ocean.

I grew up in Tauranga, where life wasn’t always easy. We struggled for the basics—some nights, no power, no hot water—but our whare was always filled with love and laughter. My parents had little, yet they always found a way to help those in need. That is the foundation of who I am.

But even as a kid, I knew something wasn’t right. We come from the land, yet we pay rent to someone else. We have generations of whenua, yet so many of us don’t know how to use it, how to make it thrive for ourselves and our tamariki. That realization became the backbone of my drive.

Mohoao is about learning how to utilize our land—our way. It’s about taking back knowledge, resources, and opportunities that should have never been lost. It’s about creating pathways, not just for me and my whānau, but for anyone who wants to do the same. Because we all deserve better. Our future generations deserve better. And I’m going to learn how—so I can pass it on.