The First Seasonal Collection - Summer
A Soap Maker’s Story: Where Summer Never Left Me
Growing up in the Bay of Plenty meant summer wasn’t a season — it was a way of life. It meant long, golden days at the beach. Fish and chips from Koro Clems at the monument. Afternoons spent swimming with my brother at the diving board while our Koro took his afternoon nap and our Kui sat nearby, happily working her way through a never-ending slice of watermelon.
Behind our tiny two-bedroom homestead in Maketu stood our beautiful red Doris plum tree — the oldest tree in the whole wide world, at least to me. Pumpkin peach trees lined the edge of our long, open drain, carefully grown and treasured. A crusty old wooden bridge crossed it, threatening to fall apart with every brave step we took.
Holidays in Arataki meant waking to the fresh sea breeze drifting through the windows. It meant removing the wheels from my cousins’ skateboards (with tools we’d “borrow” from our Papa’s shed) and walking all the way to Bayfair to buy candle wax so our boards would slide faster down the sand dunes. We’d swim for endless hours, only to be greeted each afternoon by Nana’s freshly baked biscuits on Crane Street.
Summer from Maketu to Mauao as a child in the 90's - memories that last a lifetime!
Of course, over the years, summer has changed.
The supermarket queues grow longer. Tauranga traffic stretches further. The CBD we once shopped and wandered through has transformed into construction zones and concrete.
Wi-Fi replaced wandering. iPhones replaced imagination. “Zoom” became normal. Messages demand instant replies. And now I find myself encouraging my own children to step away from devices and embrace the breathtaking beauty of Aotearoa — just as I once did without hesitation.
So much has changed.
But some things never change.
Summer in New Zealand always brings about the feeling that Christmas is upon us. Christmas now and forevermore - my most favourite time of year!
It’s the one day families truly come together. The one day technology softens into the background. The one day the shops close, the roads empty, and time feels as though it stands still. A day of giving rather than receiving.
A day of celebration in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Our very first seasonal collection following our launch are awe inspired by my most fond memories and lifelong belief!
Inspired by the sacred gifts given to baby Jesus upon arrival…
Frankincense and myrrh have been treasured since ancient times, known for their deeply grounding aroma and remarkable medicinal properties. Together, they create a scent that feels timeless — warm, resinous, and reverent.
The soft golden swirls in this soap are created using calendula-infused olive oil, chosen for its beautiful skin-soothing and healing qualities.
This soap holds meaning, tradition, and faith — and it’s also featured in our 2024 Christmas Collection.
A fruity, uplifting blend inspired by the natural beauty surrounding my childhood home in Maketu — and the old homestead across the road where my mum was raised.
It carries memories of honeysuckle along the track to Te Awhe. Of fruit trees heavy with abundance. Of endless supplies we once took for granted. Of barefoot summers and simple joy.
The bluest soap in our entire collection.
Created with a sea-inspired blend of essential oils and a kumarahou base, this bar reflects the deep waters of Tauranga Moana and the even deeper roots of my upbringing.
It honours my grandparents — their strength, their wisdom, and the values they instilled in me.
In tribute of their Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui lineage - I created Tauranga Moana.
