Honouring New Beginnings with Matariki

As Matariki rises in our skies, we welcome the Māori New Year – a sacred time of remembrance, celebration, and renewal.

At Tea & Tonic, we embrace this season with deep respect and aroha for the values it carries: whanaungatanga (connection), manaakitanga (care), and kotahitanga (unity). Matariki is more than just a star cluster – it is a guiding light for reflection and restoration.

It invites us to pause, give thanks for what has passed, and set intentions for the year ahead. In this spirit, we welcome you into our sanctuary to honour wellbeing in all its forms – physical, emotional, spiritual, and environmental.

Founded by artist and wellness advocate Monique Jansen, Tea & Tonic was born from a desire to create space for people to nourish themselves and one another. We are proud to support local and sustainable makers – many of them wāhine-led – and continue to uphold gifting as a powerful expression of connection and care. This Matariki, we invite you to reconnect with what brings you balance, joy, and clarity.

Whether it’s a thoughtfully chosen tea blend, a healing tincture, or a quiet moment in our store, we hope Tea & Tonic offers a small sense of peace on your journey. ⸻

Something Special is Rising… To celebrate the season of Matariki, we’re preparing a special giveaway for our Tea & Tonic whānau.

Head to @moniquejansen.art to enter.

The winner will receive a limited-edition art print of Mt Ruapehu, hand-drawn in Indian ink by Monique Jansen.

This piece is a personal expression of wairua (spirit), whenua (land), and connection to the natural world – values deeply woven into everything we do here at Tea & Tonic. Check in with our Instagram page over the long weekend to see if you’ll be the one to bring this beautiful taonga (treasure) into your space. ⸻ 

Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori – Warm Matariki wishes and a joyful Māori New Year, The Tea & Tonic Team