Kōkiri headed to Ngāruawāhia to catch up with NZ Fashion Week designer Batreece Poto Morgan at her cousin’s place, over the way from her Nan’s, down the road from her other relations. During the interview a cousin drops in, then a koroua pops by. As we’re leaving, a kuia walking past stops, kisses Poto and pauses at the letterbox for a korero.

“All of my inspiration in life comes from here, my whānau, the marae. This is me, pretty much.” She looks down towards Tūrangawaewae Marae, the home of the Kiingitanga.

“Part of growing up around here is just jumping out back, grabbing a tea towel, waitressing, helping out.”

Poto took part in NZ Fashion Week as part of the Miromoda Show that’s sponsored by Te Puni Kōkiri and others.

She says her latest creations had their genesis on the Waikato River, with childhood memories of fleets of waka, and hundreds of paddlers wearing rain cloaks crafted from harakeke. Growing up her grandparents’ commitment to the Kiingitanga and their 12 children was central to everything. Her Nan made all her kids clothes; she was also an expert knitter and skilled weaver.

“I used to sit at my Nan’s feet and play with her harakeke while she was weaving, I’d watch and copy her and she’d show me how to make things.”

Years later when she was studying design at Massey University in Wellington – Poto would once more call on her Nan’s expertise.

“She was the person I’d ring from my flat. We’d talk for hours about harakeke, dying, prepping, kiekie.”

Her whānau were with her at Fashion Week, “afterwards Nan said she was so proud of me; that was the coolest moment.”

After years of fulltime study, Poto was exhausted, sick of being a poor student and questioning whether she had what it took to make it. Her questions were answered by foreign judges who were blown away by her work.

“The buyer for Gucci Austria was amazingly supportive of me: that was an eye opener. I thought, wow, other people – not just my whānau – like what I’m doing, I can do this.”

With support from the Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Business Facilitation Service, Poto is in touch with a marketing mentor and her immediate aim is to market a mix of ready to wear fashion, wearable art and signature pieces.

Poto says her mum always urged her kids to get a good education, tragically, she died six-years-ago and never got to see her girl graduating with a BA in Design or wowing Fashion Week. We ask what Poto reckons her Mum would make of her.

She throws her head back and laughs.

“She’d be happy for me but she’d be shocked! Surprised to see me going from a Ngāruawhia tomboy– always outside playing with the boys in the mud – turning into a fashion designer.”

With plans to head overseas sometime, Poto gestures around her.

“This place will keep me grounded no matter wherever I go, it’ll always be with me wherever I go.”