"Be a koha, not a hoha" - a whakataukī that shaped her childhood and became the foundation of her pakihi. Like many Māori and Pasifika whānau, she recognised that generational kai habits often dictated nutritional choices. Not out of neglect, but because “we ate what our parents ate, because that’s what their parents ate, and we turned out fine.” But did we?

Recognising the overrepresentation of our people in preventable health conditions, Nikita identified a gap – a lack of accessible, non-judgmental information around nutrition. And so, Pēpi Eats was born. Not to shame, not to dictate, but to empower whānau with knowledge and options.

‍From Whakapapa to Whānau Wellbeing

The journey took a deeply personal turn during pregnancy, when Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) made her question everything she knew about nutrition. “I could feel my body wasting away,” Nikita recalls. Researching how to best nourish her growing pēpi led to a radical shift in perspective - kai wasn’t just food, it was rongoā. She embraced nutrient-dense, traditional foods and saw firsthand the positive impact it had on her son’s development.

She encourages new māmā to take advantage of those early months, before tamariki develop strong preferences: “Skip the baby cereals. Go for bone marrow, sardines, chicken liver. At that age, they don’t know what they don’t like.” Through trial, research, and a deepening connection to traditional Māori practices, she reshaped not just her own lifestyle but also her community’s access to mātauranga Māori around kai.

Facing the Challenges

The hardest part of starting? Calling herself a pakihi. In Aotearoa, there’s often a reluctance to put oneself out there, and in the early days, support was minimal. “When I had 100 followers, people weren’t really seeing the vision. Now that I’ve grown, they understand.” The unwavering belief of her tuakana and partner kept her going, reinforcing the kaupapa: community, tautoko, and accessibility.

‍Māoritanga as a Superpower

Raising her son in her tūrangawaewae, ensuring he is immersed in his reo, and having his kōkā as his Kaiako – these are the true measures of success. “I don’t want him to grow up an adult reo Māori learner. I don’t want him to feel like a stranger at his own marae.”

Te Ao Māori is the backbone of Nikita’s pakihi, and she’s intentional about weaving te reo into her kaupapa. From normalising kupu Māori in everyday interactions, to ensuring accessibility for all levels of reo speakers, she embraces learning alongside her tamaiti and community.

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Advice for Aspiring Pakihi Māori

"Just start. Ka eke ngaru tāua - ride the wave and figure it out as you go."

Nikita’s journey with Pēpi Eats has taught her that flexibility and growth go hand in hand. She also advises aspiring pakihi to keep their business names broad – lessons learned from realising how her niche branding may limit future expansion.

‍The Power of Authenticity

Nikita believes her growing online community didn’t connect because of perfectly curated content – it was her raw, unfilted honesty that resonated with her followers. She shared the wins, the struggles, the kōrero about what worked and what didn’t. “I still get messages from parents feeling like they’re failing because their kids don’t eat like mine. I always remind them - social media is a highlight reel. We all have our ups and downs.”

‍Success is Standing Tall in Māoritanga

For Nikita, success is simple:

Her son, standing tall in his Māoritanga.

It’s not about financial wealth or social media numbers. It’s about knowing who you are, where you come from, and ensuring future generations have a strong foundation in te ao Māori.

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Dreaming Big for the Future

With Pēpi Eats thriving, Nikita is expanding into a new venture – Āio & Aroha. A creative outlet born from the same kaupapa, this pakihi will focus on empowering Māori through clothing, including a kaimahi collection designed to instil mana-enhancing kupu in tamariki.

And while the dream is to do this mahi full-time, the ultimate goal remains unchanged: to uplift and give back to the community. Already, she’s donated enough pātara wai (water bottles) to a local kōhanga for every tamaiti, and she hopes to continue making a tangible impact in whānau spaces.

‍Ka Eke Ngaru Tāua

Nikita’s journey is proof that sometimes, the best path forward is to trust the process, back yourself, and simply start. To all Māori entrepreneurs out there – take the leap, embrace your Māoritanga, and ride the wave.

Tōku toa, he toa rangatira.