Our Company

“Nothing In The World Is Ever Achieved Without Passion”

Go Tuatara Limited came out of working nights on a process line, I dreamed up a way of starting a business with no money, I convinced a friend (who has the gift of words) to go into business together making New Zealand Corporate gift baskets, from that we got a contract to design contextual resources for “Mahi Ora program” a program for women designed by women, at the same time we were doing this she was producing the film work for the program and I was arranging interviews times with high powered Māori women from around the motu for her film, although we were working two jobs it really didn’t feel like work, to be a part of a program that was going to touch, move and inspire Māori women was something we were very passionate about, we loved putting together the taonga into their little containers and wrapping them beautifully, it was an act of love (aroha). Sadly she left the business as she was so busy and Go Tuatara carried on supplying them with the help of my eldest daughter Alicia.

Go Tuatara Ltd then decided we wanted to put out a stencil book of a Wharenui so that children could see, draw and learn about maori culture and that not all Wharenui were a red colour, we tried to show them subliminally that as Māori were such entrepreneurs back in the day, that if they had a choice of colours they would have had beautifully painted buildings. From that, teachers wanted them for their children in the classrooms and started asking for more resources, as they had a curriculum that they had to meet, we thought about all those pakeha teachers alone in a classroom trying to teach a language to our children that they knew very little about and we designed a whole range of resources for them and for the mama’s at home learning, at the same time we wanted them to be quality subliminally trying to show them that we as Māori deserved to have the best. This was a lot of fun, my son Bodie came and worked in our business as consultant, he ran weaponry work shops, met with teachers at school and at education conferences and produced a Haka DVD with Ngati Toa’s permission. My youngest daughter Stacey came home and handled the accounts side of things where we now sell into retail outlets and museum shops.

We have also produced resources for the “Mauri Ora program”, we were asked to produce a map of NZ with all the tribal areas on it, and a whakapapa chart, but my creative daughter had all these questions that she would have asked her dad if had lived and together with the help of Steffs Studio came up with a “For My Mokopuna” book and everything was contained in one book, we wanted people to have something of a legacy for the generations to come about their grandparents, this book was amended and adapted for and a “Kaumatua program” called “I Ahu Mai Au I Whea” i te reo Maori anake and also for “Lifeworks program” called “Generation to Generation” which is now sold through bookstores.

During this time our family was taking care of mum who had to have 24 hour care, sadly she passed away, I missed her so much I went to do part time work at nights at a Rest Home/Hospital and Memory Loss Home, during my time there I learnt so much from the other Caregivers and Registered Nurses that I thought, wouldn’t we have understood and cared for mum a lot better (and dad back in the 80’s) if I had known all that I know now, and as I worked I thought of all the other Māori Whanau out there trying to cope alone without training and how could I reach them, I thought of just letting Whanau members know that I would drop in and teach them, but then I thought it’s bigger then just those I know and do they know where they can get other help, on asking I found out that no they don’t! Now, we have put together a package for a pilot program to be run in Te Kuiti, Hamilton and Thames with Waikato PHO and are waiting to hear back from them, if you know of any Whanau at home taking care of their Kaumatua/Mum/Dad let them know to contact us on 07 823 0309.

Thorough out the history of Go Tuatara business has always flowed if we are on the right track, if we are doing it to help others and with passion for our fellow man then everything is fun to do, over the years we have always strived to work and empower and grow other NZ businesses and work with our core value of integrity to ourselves and to others. As a Whanau coming from a community background, and losing a dad, has bought us closer together, there are always two roads to take in our journey through life and we chose the one that would serve others and ultimately it always comes back to us tenfold. And wahine ma it also helps if you find a strong man to support you, Simon Newton was given to us by his dad, thank you to his Whanau and Maniapoto iwi for raising a true warrior. Arohanui Ki a Koutou Katoa na Francie Taylor

Bodie Tihoi Taylor Clone Trooper from Star Wars presenting the Haka DVD has opened a free Spiritual Warriorship Training School in Cambridge 07 827 2243 bodie@gotuatara.co.nz and is now married to Te Aroha and together they have a gorgeous daughter Rangiwaerea.

Stacey Taylor has designed Lifestyles Unlimited a program for youth 07 823 0309 stacey@gotuatara.co.nz

Alicia Taylor has designed all our resources and designs Logo’s and Artwork for other companies 07 834 2243 alicia@gotuatara.co.nz she also works for the Waikato Museum.

Please feel free to visit or phone our retailers and supply outlets in your areas and if they don't have what you want let them know and they will order it in for you, if you are in a hurry by all means order from the website.

Shipping and Delivery

Once the order has been sent to us, we will deliver your products within 14 working days. We will email you the invoice to pay by Internet Banking or you can pay by cheque before the delivery.

Contact: 07 823 03 09 Email: gotuatara@xtra.co.nz

For overseas delivery once your order is weighed we will contact you with the correct postage for airmail or surface freight for order from Australia please go through Global Kids OZ www.globalkidsoz.com.au