About Us
Based in Otaki, New Zealand, Tutina Pasene™ is a whanau (family) based company of Maori (indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand) and Polynesian descent. As a whanau company, we see our core values of cultural integrity, life balance, being unique and special, having sustainability, and koha (unconditional giving) are essential for progression in life and business.

Tutina Pasene – Designer
Tutina Pasene is of Rarotongan, Niuean and Tahitian descents and is the Director, managing garment design and production. Her designs are influenced by her pacific heritage, creating unique contemporary designs. Her life and business partner, Haupokia Grennell of Ngati Maniapoto descent, brings years of business experiences, to Tutina Pasene™ operations.

Rerehau Pasene-Grennell
Their son Rerehau, pictured right, is a graduate in Maori Art and Design from Te Wananga o Raukawa (Maori University). He brings to Tutina Pasene™ his blend of contemporary and traditional influences to produce unique Maori and Pacific designs.

Arumaki Pasene-Grennell
Their younger son Arumaki, pictured left, contributes his graphic design skill to Tutina Pasene™ and combines his flair for infusing youth culture with traditional Polynesian design.

The Tutina Pasene Label
The four leaved design at the bottom of the label is a representation of the 'pua' flower found through out the Pacific Islands. This is a representation of Tutina's origins from the mirade of Island in the vast Pacific Ocean which covers thousands of miles of ocean. The pua is positioned within the koru design above it to show the integration of Tutina's Pacific cultures with the Maori origins of her partner and the manifestation of both cultures within their children.  

The koru is a representation of the unfolding fern leaf, a symbol of new life, freshness and vitalisation,

The two outside koru represent Tutina and her partner Haupokia as the protective parents or outside fern leaves that shelter the inner leaves, in this case their four children.

The four koru inside represent the four children. The elder two are the young men Rerehau and Arumaki who work with Tutina to design the beautiful garments and the inner two are the two girls who are still in the education system working towards joining Tutina in the business.  

Overall the label is about cultures and people coming together as extended family to work, love and live as one as the creation histories of the pacific state is the natural state for the human race to be live in.