Time has me dwelling at sea level
Where my existence keeps an eye on above and below
Protection is my name
Guidance is my role
For every bay that has provision
To keep inhabitants well-being intact
I evolve my form
When shifting between Tikapa Moana and WaitemataI gaze upon the seven sisters during the lunar time
And inspired when Waka heralds Papatuanuku and Ranginui
Dive deep
Through underwater channels that shrewdly makes travel to get to others during
moonlight sunrise and high noon
To be side by side such a well-versed friend of ancestry
I give to thee for eternity.
Our name, Ahipao, was gifted to us by Ngāti Pāoa’s cultural advisor, George Tearoha Kahi, whose ancestors lived on the land where our building now stands.
Ahipao is the te reo Māori name for this land. It loosely translates to “low burning fire,” evoking the image of fires once lit along the shores of Matiatia Bay to guide waka safely home.
By honouring and respecting those who came before us, George has entrusted us with the kaitiakitanga — the guardianship — of this place.
“Matiatia Bay” by Dan Trotter, 2020.
At the heart of kaitiakitanga lies tiaki — to guard, to preserve, to foster, protect and shelter.
It is a deep ethic of care, rooted in the responsibility to protect what is precious — our land, our people, our stories.
The prefix kai refers to one who carries out an action. A kaitiaki is a guardian — a person, group, or being who watches over, nurtures, and sustains.
Kaitiakitanga is not only a duty, but a gift: a way of living in harmony with the world, and leaving it better for those to come.
Nestled in the shelter of Matiatia Bay stands the Ahipao factory — a place of modern craft on deeply storied land.
Once a thriving hub for early Māori settlements, this bay has long offered safe harbour and abundance. Through time, its deep waters have welcomed voyagers across the Hauraki Gulf, marking it as a gateway to Waiheke’s spirit of resilience and prosperity.
"The Muritai at Matiatia Wharf” by W. Walker, 1957.
Our inspiration begins on Waiheke — where sea, stone, and slow rhythms shape a way of life. We translate this island spirit into garments that endure: made to be worn, lived in, and cherished for years to come. Every piece carries the essence of the landscape — calm, resilient, and quietly powerful.
Designed and made in Aotearoa, our work blends ancestral techniques with modern innovation, crafting each garment through a thoughtful balance of expert hands, precise composition, and sustainable materials. We don’t follow trends or seasons. Instead, we create with intention — soft, lasting pieces that honour the land, tread lightly on the environment, and become part of your everyday ritual.
This building has lived many lives before becoming our family knitting mill.
Nestled in a peaceful bay, the walls still hold echoes of those past lives. Heritage pulses through every beam and floorboard, grounding our work in something greater than ourselves.
Today, our 3D knitting machines bring form to our designs with quiet precision. From there, every seam, label, and final finish is carefully done by hand. We work in small batches, giving each piece the attention it deserves.
More than a workspace, this is a place of continuity — where stories, craft, and care are woven into every thread
Ahipao Knitting Mill was once the residence for Captain Burgess and his family. Constructed during the 1850s in Cheltenham Beach, on the North Shore. This abode was crafted from the finest heart Kauri timber.
“The House of Captain I. J. Burgess” part of Waiheke Historical Society, 1850.
In the 1900s, the house was acquired by the Alison family and brought in several pieces to Matiatia in 1916, where it was reassembled. The Alisons skillfully transformed the residence into one of Waiheke’s grandest homesteads.
It was during the 1980s that the building embarked on its first journey into hospitality.
“The Alison Homestead” by Erica Week, 1970s
In 2020, Esme and her family expressed their interest to transform this remarkable building on the shores of stunning Waiheke Island into Ahipao’s knitting mill. The rebuild took over a year with great efforts into preserving some main historical characteristics of the building.
At our factory, history, humanity, and craft come together with modern technology and thoughtful research — all in service of creating garments of true quality and lasting meaning.
We don’t follow trends. We make pieces to be lived in, handed down, even fought over at family dinners. Garments that feel like home — familiar, enduring, and full of character.
Each one begins and ends under the same roof, in a place where stories linger in the walls, and every thread is made with care and intention.
There is something deeply grounding about watching things come to life — not rushed, not mass-produced, but made with purpose. Here at Ahipao, every garment begins with an idea, shaped by heritage, refined through design, and brought into being through thoughtful technology and human hands.
It’s a rhythm that respects where we’ve come from and imagines where we’re going. A quiet blend of old and new. Of innovation and memory. Of care.
And this is something we love to share.
Everyone is welcome to visit our factory. We’re always delighted to receive clients and visitors who, like us, are captivated by the harmony we’ve created here — where tradition meets modernity, and every thread has a story.
Come Visit Us
Factory Tour
Visiting Waiheke? We’d love to show you around.
Our studio is open by appointment—pop in, say hello, and see the machines at work.