Kyoko Razouk (Pohe-Lomax)

Ko Pātangata te maunga,
ko Wharekahika te awa,
ko Hinemaurea ki Wharekahika te marae,
Ko Te Whānau a Tuwhakairiora te hapū,
He uri tēnei no te whānau Pohe.
Ko Pukemaire te maunga,
ko Waiapu te awa,
ko Rāhui te marae,
Ko Te Whānau a Rongomaianiwaniwa te hapū,
He uri tēnei no te whānau Poi.
Ko Kyoko Razouk (Pohe-Lomax) tōku Ingoa.

Mini Miro began in 2019, here in Pōneke, when I was hapū with my pōtiki, Kruz. At that time, I couldn’t find much out there for tamariki that reflected te ao Māori in clothing. What started as a way to create kākahu for my own pēpi soon became a pakihi, something I could do from home, around my baby, in my own time.Home, for me, is and always will be Te Tairāwhiti. My whakapapa ties me to Wharekahika and Tikitiki. However, I grew up in Waima, Tokomaru Bay. My tuakana and I went to Te kōhanga o Marotiri, then to Hatea-a-Rangi, Ngā Taonga Tūturu, and on to Te Waiu. My upbringing in those kura shaped how I see the world, and in turn, how I approach this and any mahi I do.

Tikanga and te ao Māori are embedded in Mini Miro, not because we try to include them, but because they’re at the centre of how we live. Every design you see at Mini Miro is inspired by pūrākau and waiata I grew up with, not just as Ngāti Porou, but as someone raised within Kaupapa Māori spaces.

Being Ngāti Porou isn’t something I separate out in life or business, it’s simply who I am. That identity naturally weaves itself into every part of the pakihi, from the way we design, to how we work, and how we carry ourselves.

My whānau have always been a huge support, whether it’s helping with photoshoots, packing orders, promoting our kaupapa, or just being there to bounce ideas off. They are the ‘we’ that I often refer to. Mini Miro as a pakihi sells kākahu for pēpi and tamariki featuring Māori-inspired designs.

Everything is designed by me. The aim is simple, to offer fun, colourful clothing that represents who we are, so our kids find joy in wearing their own culture. One of the things I love most about this mahi is being able to create something meaningful, while still being present with my whānau.

If you’d like to support our pakihi, you can follow and share our socials online, or visit our website, even a kind word or tag can go a long way. Paeāhua/Pukamata: @minimironz

To anyone thinking about starting a business, just start. Do your research, keep things simple to begin with, and don’t be afraid to start small. We can be our own biggest barrier when we let fear get in the way. Back yourself, you never know where it might take you.