Embedding Māori cultural design into the foundations of Aotearoa’s future infrastructure.
Unaunahi Limited is a Māori-owned cultural design and delivery company providing end-to-end cultural frameworks for Crown infrastructure projects across Aotearoa.
Grounded in mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and toi whakairo, Unaunahi specialises in embedding cultural narrative, design integrity, and taonga into the planning, design, and construction of major public assets including hospitals,
justice facilities, and civic infrastructure.
Our approach ensures that cultural elements are not treated as surface decoration, but are structurally integrated into the built environment, aligning with both mana whenua values and project delivery requirements.
He kōrero mō mātou / Who we are
Unaunahi Limited is grounded in mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and toi whakairo, delivering end-to-end cultural design solutions for major infrastructure developments.
We work alongside Crown agencies, project teams, and mana whenua to ensure that cultural knowledge is not applied as surface detail, but is embedded within the structure, narrative, and identity of place.
Our work brings together cultural integrity and delivery certainty, providing a clear and reliable pathway for integrating Māori design into complex projects.
Ā mātaou mahi /
What we do
We provide a structured cultural design and delivery model across five key areas:
Cultural Narrative
Developing the whakapapa, identity, and meaning of place in partnership with mana whenua.
Tikanga & Te Reo Frameworks
Embedding appropriate cultural practice and language across all stages of a project.
Cultural Design Integration
Translating narrative into architectural, spatial, and visual design systems.
Taonga Design & Production
Designing and creating whakairo and contemporary cultural elements for built environments.
Cultural Project Management
Ensuring cultural components are delivered with clarity, coordination, and alignment to project timelines.
He Rerekētanga / Our Point of Difference
Unaunahi Limited operates in direct relationship with the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust, a living centre of whakairo and Māori creative practice.
This connection enables us to provide:
Cultural design grounded in lived practice
Direct access to skilled carvers and artists
End-to-end delivery from concept through to installation
We are not solely advisors, we are designers, makers, and creators of taonga.
Tō mātou ara / Our Approach
Our approach is guided by three core principles:
Whakapapa
Every project begins with understanding the identity and narrative of place.
Tikanga
Cultural integrity underpins all decisions, processes, and outcomes.
Raupapa
Structured delivery ensures alignment with project timelines and expectations.