Kuki Reka Kani Cookie Cutters - Mara Set of 3

Bring one-of-a-kind Māori designs into your kitchen and make uniquely shaped cookies with these Kuki Reka Kani (loosely translated as cookie cutters) designed by Waikato Kaumātua.

The Māra set is an acknowledgement of Aotearoa’s botanicals. This set includes the Pōhutukawa (whero-red), Kawakawa (kakariki-green), and Kōwhai (Kōwhai-yellow) shaped cookie cutters. Each set also includes a booklet giving more detail about each cutter design plus a selection of delicious recipes to get you started. The cutters each have a chunky handle making them easy for all hands to grip and move around, whether they be little hands or arthritic ones... so everyone can have fun in the kitchen together!

Kuki Reka refers to the delicious cookies that are made with these cutters. Reka means delicious in Māori and for the purposes of our products Reka also stands for: Rauawaawa Enterprise for Kaumātua Aspirations. We are proud that our products are New Zealand made and that they have been named and lovingly inspired by Kaumātua at Rauawaawa. 

Pōhutukawa (New Zealand Christmas Tree)

The Pōhutukawa for Māori is a sacred tree, legend tells of the young Māori warrior, Tawhaki and his attempt to find help in heaven to avenge his father's death. He subsequently fell to earth and the bright red flowers are said to represent his blood. Potentially the most famous Pōhutukawa in Māori legend is a small, old tree near Cape Reinga where the spirits of the dead pass on their way to the next world.

Also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree, Pōhutukawa are often found in coastal areas and are well known for their large, red flowers on display around Christmas time. The Pōhutukawa cookie cutter represents the flower of the tree in all its beautiful whero/red glory.

Kawakawa (Pepper Tree)

The Kawakawa for Māori is a source of rongoa, used for medicinal purposes in matters ranging from stomach ailments, bladder problems and even toothache. Wāhine Māori in certain areas will also wear a wreath of Kawakawa on their head during a tangi/funeral ceremony as a sign of mourning.

Also known as the pepper tree, the Kawakawa is a small, densely-branched shrub/tree with gorgeous heart-shaped leaves. The Kawakawa cookie cutter represents the beautifully shaped leaf in a striking deep green.

Kōwhai (Yellow)

Kōwhai is a Māori word meaning yellow, and the Kōwhai tree, a native of New Zealand is well known for their bright and beautiful yellow flowers that are also regarded as New Zealand’s unofficial national flower. There are several species, some having healing properties such as solutions made from boiling the bark or leaves for applying to cuts, wounds and infections. In Māori folklore the Kōwhai is a Puawānanga tree. Puawānanga was said to be the child of the stars Puanga (Rigel in Orion) and Rehua (Antares in Scorpio). In some traditions, the appearance of Puanga signalled winter and Rehua summer – Puawānanga trees flower in the months between them.

The Kōwhai cookie cutter design showcases the bright yellow of the Kōwhai flowers whilst also capturing the flowers, pods and leaf stem in its shape.

• Food grade polypropylene
• Aluminium dowel insert
• Designed and manufactured in Hamilton, New Zealand
• Dishwasher safe (top rack)
• Wash before use

This product is also available to purchase in store at Zealandia.

All proceeds support Zealandia's 500 conservation mission.