Get the look: Penny Sage ‘Evie’ silk shirt, $420. Kowtow ‘Grid’ vest, $279. Juliette Hogan ‘Koa’ trousers, $429. Deadly Ponies ‘Cinch’ pump, $399, from Scarpa. Alex Sands ‘Pounamu Drop’ earrings, $325, from The Poi Room.
For our winter ’26 cover shoot, educator, tastemaker, and cultural advocate, Natua Kaa-Morgan (Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Pūkenga ki Waiau) finds comfort and joy in tranquil surrounds, supported by an intentional wardrobe of homespun knitwear and jewel tones. This is proudly Aotearoa fashion at its finest.
Home and harmony
Kawakawa House in Piha, designed by Herbst Architects, is an elevated coastal retreat nestled in pōhutukawa forest with expansive views of the ocean and bush. Its sculptural form blurs the boundary between interior and landscape. The home reflects the same values as New Zealand-made fashion, with a focus on craft, materiality, and a strong sense of place.
Get the look: Zambesi limited edition snakeskin print shirt, hand dyed by designer and co-founder Elisabeth Findlay, POA. Juliette Hogan ‘Twin’ cardigan (cashmere), $449. Penny Sage ‘Tom’ denim skirt, $420. Alex Sands ‘Pounamu Drop’ earrings, $325, from The Poi Room.
“For something or someone to be indigenous, José Martínez Cobo described it in the ‘80s as a people who experienced conquest by a colonial power and were pushed into becoming the minority in their own lands. So indigenous creativity, in itself, is kind of miraculous,” explains Kaa-Morgan. “It is gorgeous living proof that our peoples, our crafts, and our knowledge systems are still here. To celebrate it, to find joy in it, to acknowledge it, and to spotlight it is to revel in both resistance and existence. I count it a privilege to do so as often as I can.”
Get the look: Āhuru ‘Homespun’ vest, spun by Sue, $999. Atarangi Anderson (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Hauiti) ‘Te Ao Marama’ (kahu aute styled as a skirt) made from aute grown in Aotearoa with muka, pounamu, and embroidery thread, POA. Ceremony by Mia Straka ‘Naia’ shell choker, $830, from Brooke Tyson. Deadly Ponies ‘Cinch’ pump, $399, from Scarpa.
Texture studies
Hailing from a family of knitters and crafters, founder of Āhuru, Natalie Robb, has leaned into the concept of cosy through her collection of considered, made-to-order knitwear created by a community based in the Māhia Peninsula, a scenic, rugged promontory on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, nestled between Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay. Winner of The Emerging Designer Award at FQ Fashion Awards 2025, Āhuru’s signature knitwear style is a local offering worth investing in.
Get the look: Davaar x Sylvester ‘The 808’ jumper, $595. Fringes check wool skirt, $547, from The Shelter. Alex Sands ‘Pounamu Drop’ earrings, $325, from The Poi Room.
Happy when it rains
Made in New Zealand using 100 per cent strong wool this vibrant jumper is based on an heirloom knitting pattern from Davaar Station’s Macdonald family, leaning into this history through its cable braid detailing, raglan shoulders, soft rounded crew neckline, and ribbed cuffs, paired with a full wool skirt by emerging designer Finn Mora-Hill and his label Fringes.
Get the look: Campbell Luke archival dress, and trousers, POA. Āhuru scarf, spun by Barb, $999. Susan Keates ‘Kawakawa’ hand-cut sterling silver earrings, $305, from The Poi Room.
“I absolutely love self-expression because I absolutely love myself in consideration of who I come from, where I come from, and who will come from me,” says Kaa-Morgan. “However, this wasn’t always the case for me and has been forged in the fires of reclamation.”
“This genuine self-love, acknowledgment of my identity, and consequent self-expression through clothes and kōrero really developed when I started to learn te reo Māori in 2018. The Māori language became the key source of knowing who I really am, connecting me back to my home in Manaia and giving me greater perspectives for peoples and for the future.”
“So if there’s anything I hope people take away from my perspective it’s that understanding your identity will be quintessential to anything beautiful you do. Oh, and to come and learn te reo Māori! It can help you discover yourself no matter what your cultural background is.”
Get the look: Noa Blanket Co. 100 per cent New Zealand lambswool blanket (limited edition), $489. Campbell Luke archival trousers, POA. Bared ‘Tattler’ shoes, $329.
Get the look: The louche drape of a cream top matched with classic denim is the perfect elevated off-duty formula for days requiring comfort and easy elegance. Juliette Hogan ‘Una’ top, $459. Citizens of Humanity ’Miro’ relaxed jeans, $590, from Fabric.
Get the look: Taking in the healing respite of the kawakawa plant, Kaa-Morgan finds solace in a mix of humble textures and the grandiose appeal of the silk taffeta ‘Mountain’ jacket by Lela Jacobs in a shimmering shade of bronze, $1350. Ruby ‘Matilda’ zip cardigan, $319. Citizens of Humanity ‘Miro’ relaxed jeans, $590, from Fabric
“The natural environment’s overall needs influence me to always consider the whakapapa (history) of a garment and how my actions might harm or help the further impact that garment will have on the world,” explains Kaa-Morgan.
“Theoretically, well in the same way that the natural environment I’ve called home for 27 generations sees so many seasons, climate zones, landscapes, and endemic ‘only in Aotearoa’ species existing in such close proximity, my daily style also seeks to hold that range and diversity with a beautiful balanced ease. Never confined to one style, always impacted by the surrounding environment, sometimes surprising, and ultimately seeking out rare aesthetics only ever found in our indigenous ecosystems.”
Get the look: The mother-to-be takes a moment of respite to take in a clear sunset at Piha. Āhuru knit cape, POA, from The Shelter. Levi’s jeans, $180. Atarangi Anderson (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Hauiti) cuffs made from aute and muka, POA. Ceremony by Mia Straka ‘Naia’ shelL choker, $830, from Brooke Tyson.
