TE TOKA I ĀKIHA HE TOKA WHITINGA RĀ ENGARI KO TE TOKA I MĀPUNA KO TE RIPO KAU TĀU E KITE AI
Rooted in the wisdom of the whakatauki, 'TE TOKA | ĀKIHA, HE TOKA WHITINGA RĀ, ENGARI KO TE TOKA | MĀPUNA, KO TE RIPO KAU TĀU E KITE AI,' we draw inspiration from the profound message it carries. This whakatauki speaks of a deeper truth—that it's not the rock on the surface of the riverbed, though beautiful and often admired, that truly creates the ripples of impact. Instead, it's the rock beneath the water's surface, out of plain sight, that exerts the most significant influence on the river's course and behavior. This philosophy echoes our own journey of growth and learning over the years. It reminds us that our purpose lies in the subtle, egoless actions that create enduring ripples of change. This whakatauki serves as our foundation, guiding us as we navigate the path toward a better future through our work."
MEDIA
TE KARERE PROFILE ON WHAKAARO FACTORY- 2019
"It’s all about looking after our culture, making sure that people aren’t using and abusing who we are and what we have as Māori - our taonga."
Te Rauhiringa Krystal-lee Brown caught up with digital diva Ani-Oriwia Adds who's on a mission to change the way Māori businesses are represented through design and technology.
LAUNCH OF THE TAMAARIKI PROJECT
Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and the Ministry of Education have launched a new initiative that refers to disabled children as 'superheroes'. It's a strategy to help kohanga reo and Māori-medium teachers help the children excel in education.
Kōhanga reo teachers are calling for teaching strategies and resources to help disabled children within a Māori forum.
Whakaaro Factory were honoured to be the lead Creative Agency who created the brand identity and collateral for this kaupapa
TĀMAKI ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2020
Māori businesses gathered in Tāmaki Makaurau today to create and champion a new vision for a strong Māori economic future.
CEO and digital content creator Ani-Oriwia Adds says that the pandemic pushed Māori businesses online forcing some to take up a new way of doing business.
INNOVATIVE INDEGENOUS THINKING FROM WHAKAARO FACTORY
The company, Whakaaro Factory, recently moved into a new eco-friendly building on Katea Street in Riverbank Park, which houses Ani and her team of Māori born-and-bred creatives. The team includes 10 employees and six contractors.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Ani-Oriwia Adds
Ngāti Tukorehe, Te Atiawa, Muaūpoko, Ngati Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne ki Wairau, Ngai Tahu.
He mokopuna tēnei o te whānau Wehipeihana nō Kuku, O'Carrol no Waitara, Wirihana nō Muaūpoko Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne ki Wairau rātou ko Ngai Tahu.
Ani-Oriwia Adds with partner Jai Te Ahunga
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Whakaaro Factory has thrived in the industry for over a decade, with Ani's entrepreneurial journey beginning at the age of 21. Her initial projects ranged from crafting CV designs to assisting small Māori businesses with logo creation and corporate documents. In 2017, Ani took the leap into full-time entrepreneurship to meet the growing demand.
Throughout the years, Whakaaro Factory has collaborated with over 500 businesses, both locally and internationally, spanning from medium-sized enterprises to large organisations.
Ani's passion lies in preserving Māori culture within the digital realm, ensuring that our narrative is accurately portrayed by our own people, for the benefit of future generations. Her mission is to bridge cultural divides through effective communication, finding common ground and understanding.
Ani is renowned in the industry for her unwavering Māori identity and values, fearlessly advocating for the protection of our tāonga tuku iho. She collaborates with various organizations and contributes to numerous significant indigenous design projects.
Whakaaro Factory offers a range of contemporary services that encompass communications strategy and planning, graphic design, branding for corporate, government, and Māori businesses nationwide. Additionally, they specialize in storytelling through animation and motion graphics, video editing, and website and app design and development."