Pāharakeke, Heretaunga

Lightweight, Beautiful, Affordable
A collection of recycled, upcycled,
beautifully crafted Māori earrings.
Great addition to any
wāhine and tāhine wardrobe.
Made in Aotearoa by Wahine Māori.
Mahuika, Atua wahine of fire. 🔥
Mahuika married Auahitūroa who was a comet, their children were the fingernails of fire on Mahuika’s hand.
Maui, feeling curious, wondered what would happen if he put all the fires in the village out, so waited until everyone was asleep and went around putting all the flames out.
In the morning, he was told by his mother Taranga, that a faint glowing appearance in the distance was the home of the fire goddess Mahuika.
He was sent off to retrieve fire from her for the village.
It was said her appearance was fearful, as flames flickered from her finger tips and her toes.
Maui headed off to Mahuika's cave to retrieve some fire.
After introducing himself as her moko, Maui explained that the village had no fire and they would need some more.
She responded by plucking a flame from her big toe.
Maui headed off back to the village with the treasure of fire, but he threw it into a stream, where it was fizzed out.
Returning, he begged Mahuika to give him more to replace the lost flame.
Mahuika gave him another flame and Maui repeated his trick until the ancient one had given him the fiery nails of all her fingers and toes but one.
By this time she was aware Maui was playing games, and in her anger she plucked off the last finger nail flame and threw it at him, uttering an incantation to cause it to consume everything in its path, ultimately destroying Maui.
Mahuika's flames blazed all around him, he ran.
Maui shape shifted into a kahu and tried to fly away but the flames singed his wings.
He called on Tawhiri-matea and Whatitiri for help and they sent torrents of rain which dowsed the inferno and flooded the land.
As Mahuika was defeated, she sent her last spark seeds into the kaikomako tree, the mahoe tree, the patete and the totara tree.
Maui returned to the village with his fire sticks and taught everyone the art of fire starting.
Made from recycled tyre tube and stainless steel hooks.
Mahuika measures 7cm x 3cm.
Mahuika Iti measures 3cm x 2cm.
Whakakai's kaupapa is to provide beautiful, quality, affordable earrings for wāhine and tāhine from all walks of life. I myself couldn't afford to buy even a $25 pair of earrings at one point, I'd always put it off and say "Never mind", I don't want other wāhine/tāhine to feel like that, so you will see my prices range from $5-$30, so everyone can afford a pair. The earrings I have priced at $30 are the really detailed ones that take a lot of time to complete. So from short earrings, medium earrings to super big earrings, there's a whole range to check out.
They are so beautiful! Can't wait to send them off. Thank you so much!Xxx
I love earrings. Love your mahi. Thank you so much.
I have to say thank you so much for the earrings ano. They are ataahua!!
Yay! Yes love those ones. Thank you so much. I wear the earrings you sent me all the time and people ask me about them HEAPS!
Kim Grace
Store Manager
Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Horouta te waka
Ko Ngati Porou te iwi
Ko Ruataupare te marae
Ko Te Whānau a Ruataupare ki Tuparoa te hapū
No Wairoa ahau engari ka noho au ki Heretaunga
Ko Kim Grace toku ingoa
Just a little bit about myself, I started Whakakai in August 2020.... I was making some earrings for my sisters during my break at work when my kaiako Whaea Rosie saw and asked if I could make her some and she'd pay me. Long story short she became my model trying out all the new styles and coming back from the staffroom saying who wanted some etc... So I decided I'd just sell to colleagues and within the school.
As word got out friends of colleagues wanted to order and wanted to know how they could order, so I made a page on facebook to showcase designs and people could order through there. I am now up all hours of the night doing orders.
I really enjoy anything to do with art, photography and Te Ao Māori and love coming up with new designs.
I am a mum of three (which is my number one priority) and I am currently homeschooling so please be patient. I do my best to get orders done promptly, but sometimes things can come up.
Big thank you to all the whānau, friends, work colleagues and customers for your tautoko and encouragement along the way.
Ngā mihi nui❤️
Pāharakeke, Heretaunga