Hi, I'm Grace, the founder and creator of Āe Botanicals.

I'm a 42-year-old Māori woman of Tainui (Waikato) descent. I was raised in Hamilton and have been fortunate to live throughout New Zealand and Australia, experiences that have shaped both my personal journey and the way I see wellbeing.

Today, I call beautiful Northland home. Living amongst nature inspires much of what we create at Āe Botanicals and reinforces my belief that skincare should be simple, effective and thoughtfully made.

Above all, I'm passionate about helping people feel confident in their own skin through products that are carefully crafted in New Zealand using high-quality botanicals and scientifically researched ingredients.

My passion for holistic health and herbalism inspired me to create something that could make a meaningful difference in people's everyday lives.

I wanted to share the benefits of natural wellbeing with people across New Zealand and around the world in a way that was simple, practical and accessible.

Skincare became that opportunity.

I set out to create a brand that reflected my values, products made with carefully selected ingredients, designed to be effective, sustainable and beautiful to use every day.

I wanted every detail, from the formulations to the packaging, to feel thoughtful, purposeful and unique.

As a proud Māori woman, it was also important that Āe Botanicals honoured my heritage. Inspired by Aotearoa's natural landscape and traditional respect for the healing power of nature, the brand brings together native botanicals, modern science and intentional design to create products that support both skin health and overall wellbeing.

Today, Āe Botanicals continues to grow with the same vision it started with, to help people simplify their routines, reconnect with themselves and experience skincare as part of a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

When I'm not working on Āe Botanicals, you'll usually find me at home on our rural property in beautiful Northland with my whānau.

We enjoy caring for our farm animals and doing our best to live as sustainably as possible.

Although the brand continues to grow, I still balance studying and my personal demands alongside it.

Every day I'm involved in every part of Āe Botanicals, from meetings and marketing to customer service, sales, distribution and the day-to-day direction of the brand. If you've ever sent us a message, there's a good chance you've been talking directly with me.

At heart, I'm a creator. Whether it's developing skincare, exploring herbalism and plant medicine, creating recipes in the kitchen, or bringing new ideas to life, I love making things with purpose. Creativity has always been a big part of who I am, and it continues to inspire everything I do.

Above all, I value the simple things, time with the people I love, being surrounded by nature, and creating products that genuinely make a difference in people's lives.

My vision is for Āe Botanicals to become a proudly New Zealand-made brand recognised both here at home and internationally.

I hope to see our products stocked throughout New Zealand and shared with people around the world who are looking for thoughtful, effective and naturally inspired skincare.

As the brand grows, my goal is to expand beyond skincare and develop complementary products that support inner wellbeing alongside outer wellbeing. Together, these will create a more complete approach to self-care, inspired by Te Whare Tapa Whā - the Māori model of wellbeing that recognises the importance of caring for our physical, mental and emotional, family, and spiritual wellbeing.

Innovation and sustainability will always remain at the heart of every decision we make. My hope is that Āe Botanicals continues to evolve while staying true to its purpose: creating products that help people care for themselves, connect with nature, and embrace wellbeing as part of everyday life