Kuki Reka Kani Koru Cookie Cutters Set of 3

Koru (Spiral): Koru translates to "loop" or "coil" in Te Reo and is a spiral shaped based on the new unfurling silver fern frond and therefore symbolises new life, growth and new beginnings.

The circular shape represents the idea of eternal movements as the inner coil of the koru suggest returning to the point of origin.

The Māori proverb that speaks of rebirth and growth says: 

"Ka Hinga atu he tete-kura - ka hara-mai he tete-kura."

"As one fern frood dies - one is born to take its place"

Hei Matau (Fish Hook): Māori legend is embodied in the design, with the belief that the North Island of Aotearoa was once a large fish pulled from the ocean floor by Māui with a fish hook made from his grandmother's jaw bone. 

Māori legend says that the shape of Hawkes Bay is that of Hei Matau, which caught in the side of the fish, Te Ika a Maui, the North Island. 

The Hei Matau symbolises a strong connection to the ocean and also to Tangaroa, God of the Sea. It is a taonga (cultural treasure) and represents not only the land but also fertility, prosperity and safe travels over water. 

Pikorua (double twist): The Pikorua, twist, represents the lives of two groups or cultures joining together as one. It is based on the arms of the pikopiko fern and is a powerful expression of loyalty, love and friendship: staying strong for eternity, as there is no end point to the twist. It depicts two new shoots growing together.

It also refers to the three baskets of knowledge that were brought back to Earth by Tane when he returned from his climb to the highest heavens after his parents Ranginui and Papatuanuku were seperated. The three baskets are Te Kete Tuatea (basket of light), Te Kete Tauri (basket of darkness) and Te Kete Aronui (basket of pursuit). 

Kuki Reka Kani: Kaumātua Inspired Cookie Cutters

The Kuki Reka Kani are unique cookie cutters, inspired, developed and named by our lovely  Kaumātua at Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust. The cutters were initiated to help Kaumātua  with dementia, to engage in cooking therapy that promoted Te Ao Māori, cultural heritage, and  whakapapa in a social and fun way. Cooking therapy stimulates smell, taste and touch senses in dementia patients which can bring back memories from decades ago.

Several hui were held with groups of Kaumātua to help identify the most appropriate Māori designs for use in kai. The chefs at Rauawaawa helped shape the development of the designs to ensure the cutters worked easily with people from Kaumātua engaged in cooking therapy, tamariki in schools, rangatahi in home economics classes, home cooks and their whānau and professional chefs.

The cutters are designed to cut through the dough and leave a pattern imprinted on the dough in one easy push. This makes them gentle on both elderly hands as well as providing a large grip for children to hold. The patterns reflect the look of a chiseled whakairo rākau (wood carving), an important aspect in Māori culture.