Te Moananui-a-Kiwa. The great ocean that connects us.
Our Studio
Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua. Walking into the future with our eyes fixed on the past.
Makacolab™ is an indigenous design studio & collective working across Aotearoa, the Pacific, and beyond. We bring together Indigenous perspectives, contemporary design practice, and cultural storytelling to shape places that are thoughtful, responsive, and deeply connected to context. Our work honours history and identity while creating outcomes that resonate in the present and endure into the future.
Our Identity
Our name and identity are grounded in the foundational elements and active traditions of the Pacific. Maka represents the rock, the stone, and the foundation, reflecting the enduring strength of place and the cultural bedrock upon which we build. In te reo Māori, Maka also means to throw or cast, reflecting our role in casting a vision, initiating new pathways, and reaching across the horizon to connect people and ideas.
Colab speaks to the collaborative nature of our practice and our commitment to collective ways of working. It is an expression of the principle e hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini. Recognising that our strength is not as individuals, but as a collective. We provide a shared space for thinking, making, and cultural exchange, bringing together communities, knowledge holders, and creatives to shape meaningful outcomes.
Our logo, an abstract interpretation of two interlocking fish hooks, speaks to this shared heritage of navigation and sustenance across Te Moananui-a-Kiwa. It represents the coming together of people, the spirit of exploration, the strength of partnership, and our collective responsibility to the lands and waters that sustain us.
Our Approach
Our approach is grounded in place and guided by cultural knowledge. We work alongside communities, creatives, and project partners to bring stories into spatial, visual, and lived form, translating narrative into strategy, design, and experience.
We move beyond surface expression to create work with depth, integrity, and accountability. By centring Indigenous leadership, respecting cultural protocols, and building trusted relationships, we create processes and outcomes that are meaningful, collaborative, and enduring. We also leave space for stewardship, so the stories and intentions carried within each project can continue with care.