Kiri Nathan opens hub in the heart of GI
November 2, 2023
Renowned fashion designer and Glen Innes girl Kiri Nathan is smashing glass ceilings. This year Kiri will make history as the first Māori designer to open New Zealand Fashion Week.
Kiri is a third generation Glen Innes local who has whakapapa back to Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Hauā. She opened a local community hub called Te Āhuru Mōwai (meaning ‘safe place’) late last year, located across the road from the train station in Glen Innes.
The opening of Te Āhuru Mōwai was monumental with esteemed guests such as Kīngitanga and former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern in attendance.
Te Āhuru Mōwai is all about supporting the aspirations of Māori and Pasifika. The hub will be the home of community projects led by Kiri, such as the KN Rangatahi Enterprise programmes that Kiri hopes will run through local schools here in Tāmaki.
“Ka ara ake tētahi, ka ara ake te katoa. One lifts, we all lift.”
These programmes will see waste fabrics repurposed into products made by rangatahi, then sold through a basic enterprise model that teaches the next generation how to work sustainably and build their own incomes.
“I love being back in the hood! Looking forward to working with rangatahi and creatives in Tāmaki.” - Kiri Nathan
Follow Kiri Nathan on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date
