The Haka is a traditional ancestral war dance of the Māori people in New Zealand with a very special meaning 'Be a strong fighter, find strength by choosing to smile through whatever challenges life brings'. This is the message we have instilled in our Courtney.
Haakaa is a 100% family owned and New Zealand run company. The message behind our brand is a strong and passionate one and it is what drives us everyday to do what we do. Haakaa was developed through our struggle to find non-toxic and safe products for my little sister Courtney. Courtney is special needs being born with Autism among other disabilites. When protecting her health and preserving the environment for her future became our top priority, haakaa was born. Over the years, we found it extremely difficult to find green products suitable for infants and children. With most Eco baby brands only carrying a limited range and shipping to New Zealand was difficult and expensive. That was when we realised we could develop a range that is not only convenient and versatile, but also safe for more parents and their babies.
Today haakaa has an exciting range all made using environmentally friendly and safe raw materials such as stainless steel, glass, bamboo, and natural rubber. All haakaa products are designed and tested in New Zealand, Manufactured in selected advanced international factories under strict quality controls and successfully tested against the worlds highest safety standards (such as European EN14350 and US FDA).
We feel so blessed to be able to get our message out to other families. By creating safe yet stylish products we are not only protecting our precious children from harmful chemicals and toxins, we are ensuring their future and our planets future.
We truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Though life with a special needs child is challenging and exhausting at times, this amazing brand and our journey would not have begun without her. The lessons and experiences Courtney teaches us everyday is something we are all very grateful for and her smile and fighting spirit is the driving force behind each and every one of us.