Rauwhenua
Traditional practice through contemporary form.
Rauwhenua provides whānau with a contemporary way to hold their pēpi's whenua after birth, until they are ready to return it to the whenua.
What is Rauwhenua?
Rauwhenua provides whānau with a contemporary way to hold their pēpi's whenua after birth until they are ready to return it to the whenua.
It sits alongside traditional forms such as ipu made from harakeke or uku, the same purpose in a contemporary form.
Whakahokia te whenua ki te whenua.
Kaupapa
The whenua of a pēpi carries a connection back to Papatūānuku. Returning it to the land, whakahokia te whenua ki te whenua, is a practice that grounds pēpi to place, to whānau, and to whakapapa. Rauwhenua exists to support whānau through that practice, in a form that fits how we live today.
Rauwhenua
Home-compostable, leak-proof, and freezer safe. Presented complete with a presentation box, filling, guide, and taura, ready for whānau from the moment it's given.
How it works
At birth, in the way that's right for your whānau.
Placed gently in, sealed securely, leak-proof.
Kept cool, or in the freezer, for as long as needed.
When whānau are ready, in your own time, your own tikanga.
Rauwhenua for Whānau Services
Where māmā and whānau already are.
Rauwhenua can be supplied through maternity, postpartum and whānau-support pathways as a practical biodegradable ipu whenua option.
Service, funded and bulk supply options can be explored with organisations supporting māmā and whānau.
Ūkaipō is exploring relationships through which Rauwhenua can be introduced or made available to whānau, through the people and organisations already supporting māmā and whānau through pregnancy and birth.
Enquire about service supplyWānanga
Ūkaipō is developing kaupapa around the period after pēpi is born: whenua and afterbirth, postpartum healing, mātauranga, and practices supporting māmā and whānau through this time.
Register InterestStock Rauwhenua
Rauwhenua is made in Aotearoa New Zealand, with wholesale pricing and availability for the right retail partners.
Retailer EnquiryFounder
Creator, Rauwhenua
Rauwhenua was born from a kōrero shared by the late Uncle Rock Ratana, who spoke of how whenua was once simply wrapped in rau before being returned to the land. From that whakaaro came the name, and the practice that Rauwhenua now carries forward in a contemporary form.
