While picking up his son from kōhanga reo, Dr. Witehira noticed that the sandpit tools were all European in origin—trowels, spades, and forks. This simple observation sparked a collaboration between Dr. Witehira and his good friend, product designer James Prier. Together, they reimagined traditional Māori agricultural implements for tamariki, leading to the creation of the Paku Toki and Paku Timo—tools that blend Māori knowledge with contemporary design.
The journey to create Paku tools was a deeply collaborative and community-driven process that spanned over two years. During that time Johnson and James worked closely with Māori communities, engaging with kōhanga reo, wānanga institutions, and experts in Māori design, education, and agriculture to ensure the tools were meaningful and authentic.