The Story behind Kaiwhakangau
Who We Are
Kaiwhakangau is a whānau-led kaupapa built around connection, purpose, and practical everyday living.
We are people who value the whenua, the community, and the quiet strength found in stepping away from the noise of modern life.
Our clothing is designed to be worn, lived in, and trusted.
Kaiwhakangau represents more than outdoor apparel.
It represents a mindset – one that values real moments, real places, and real people.
Our Name
Kaiwhakangau is pronounced Kai-fah-kah-ngoh.
The name reflects our connection to the land, to traditional practice, and to the role of gathering and providing.
Our Why
Kaiwhakangau exists to help support community wellbeing.
Through our Kai Connect initiative, every purchase helps support the supply of organic wild venison to whānau across Tairāwhiti.
We believe good work should help feed people.
Our Belief
Healthy waters.
Healthy land.
Healthy people.
Wear something that stands for something.
Meet the Team Behind Kaiwhakangau
Kaiwhakangau is whānau-led, heart-first, and proudly rooted in Tairāwhiti.
At the helm are
Rob and Lisa Daunton—partners in life, legacy, and the wild.
Kaiwhakangau is guided by the shared vision of Rob and Lisa.
Together, they carry a kaupapa centred on respect for people, land, and practical everyday living. Their focus is simple – to create outdoor clothing that honours whānau, supports community, and helps reconnect people with the natural world.
From the ridgeline to the workshop, from wild kai to warm fleece, every Kaiwhakangau garment is shaped by a commitment to service, dignity, and real-life use.
Lisa leads the creative and storytelling heart of Kaiwhakangau. She brings design vision, purpose, and determination to building a brand that stands for meaningful impact.
Rob contributes practical experience, deep respect for the land, and steady operational strength. His work reflects a connection to hunting, land stewardship, and the everyday realities of getting things done well.
Together, they aim to live the values they promote – supporting whānau, protecting legacy, and building gear that people can trust and wear with confidence.
Kaiwhakangau is more than clothing.
It is a kaupapa rooted in whānau.
