A Māori clothing designer in Australia has stepped up in a powerful way to support a New Zealand woman who was allegedly set on fire in her own home.
Destiny Otton-Rakuraku, currently in critical care at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, was the victim of a horrific attack last Saturday. The accused, a 36-year-old man, has been charged with attempted murder, common assault, and breaching a domestic violence order. He appeared in court earlier this week, where friends and family filled the courtroom to show their support. No bail application was made by the defense, and police strongly opposed bail.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In response to the shocking incident, Kassidy Pupuo, owner of the Queensland-based clothing brand Rongo-ā-Tahu, decided to take action. Kassidy first met Destiny’s mother, Alison, in 2015 through te reo Māori lessons. When she saw Destiny’s face on the news, it hit her hard.
“It felt like a real gut punch,” Kassidy shared. “We had to rewind the news and watch it again, thinking, ‘Wow, this is just not okay.’”
Determined to help, Kassidy reached out to Linda Munn, one of the original designers of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, to get permission to use the flag’s design on clothing as part of a fundraising initiative.
Linda, who has also spoken openly about her own experiences with domestic violence, agreed, emphasizing that the Tino Rangatiratanga flag isn’t about profit but uplifting Māori communities. “My whakaaro was that this issue is a huge pandemic plaguing our culture, no matter where we go in the world,” Kassidy explained. “Using this kaupapa to support the whānau right now, and later giving back to Māori-focused initiatives, felt like the right thing to do.”
The attack on Destiny, originally from Auckland, allegedly occurred after an altercation at her home in Kingston, just south of Brisbane. The accused, identified by Australian media as Renata Manning, is said to have poured petrol over her and set her on fire. Neighbors reportedly rushed to her aid after witnessing the horrific scene.
For Kassidy, the incident raises bigger questions about the root causes of such violence. “Why are our tamariki growing up in environments like this? Why are our tane harming our wahine? Why are our whānau caught in these cycles?” she asked.
She believes the current systems fail to meet the needs of Māori and don’t address the layers of intergenerational trauma that stem from colonization. “The Westminster system doesn’t work for us as Māori. It doesn’t address the real issues that go back generations.”
Through her clothing fundraiser, Kassidy hopes to not only support Destiny’s recovery and her family during this unimaginably difficult time but also spark wider conversations about breaking the cycles of violence and trauma within Māori communities.
“It’s moments like these where we’re reminded of the need for real change—and the strength we find in our culture to support one another.