Photography by Peter Rees
A Good Chat with Timmy Smith (Whakatōhea, Te Ūpokorehe, Ngati Porou) – the Waiheke-based entrepreneur, creative and founder behind Timmy Smith jewellery and organic, sparkling teas.
My morning cuppa is…
one of my own organic blends, Zes-tea. It’s a combination of indigenous offerings from both Aotearoa and Australia with a base of sencha green to give the kaha (strength) I need to start my day.
My happy place is…
being submerged in the moana. It’s where I gain clarity and revitalisation within moments of being wrapped in her waves. A place I try to dive into as often as I can.
This year I’ll be celebrating Matariki by…
slowing down, taking time for deep reflection and preparing myself for the planning of te tau (the year) to come. And, being wrapped in the warmth of watching my moko (grandchild) perform, in the wharenui of Piritahi Marae on Waiheke Island, is what I am most looking forward to, in addition to having multiple dinners around the fire with whānau and friends.
My favourite comfort food is…
anything grown from our māra kai (vege garden). Having the ability to feed my whānau from our whenua, is a comfort I will always be grateful for.
My “can’t miss” podcast is…
the Nuku series – I think I have gone through each session at least twice. Each time I absorb more mātauranga (knowledge) from the kaha (strength) and ngā kupu (words) from this inspiring ropu (group) of indigenous wāhine.
The book I’m currently reading is…
An Army of Problem Solvers by Shaun Loney with Will Braun. It is a hard, yet essential read for the mahi we are undertaking.
My favourite piece of jewellery in the Timmy Smith collection is…
the Connective Kina Collection. I created them to cleverly carry embedded grains of sand so the wearer can connect to coastlines of their choosing.
Pause is a favourite word because…
it is the place holder and reminder of why we have created our sparkling tea range. It talks to the power of being in a moment, where all your senses are ignited and we feel connected to what our whenua (land) has gifted us.
A movie I think everyone should see is…
Cousins because it interweaves the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights and recognition, while inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of power dynamics and systemic injustice. It serves as a reminder of the need for meaningful reconciliation and decolonisation in our contemporary society.
The mantra I live by is…
“Manaaki whenua, manaaki tāngata, haere whakamua”.
“If we take care of our lands and we take care of our people we will take care of our future.”
My advice to my future self is… be as kind to yourself as you are to others.
