Founder, Te Ariki, created Hoko due to many medium to large Kiwi businesses not being given the airtime or opportunity to market and sell their products effectively on an existing marketplace. Many smaller businesses, too, particularly in the fashion industry, were trending on a small scale with their quality products but needed an avenue to scale up their business. That’s where an online hub for NZ products and services first came to mind. With international competitors encroaching further into the NZ market and sweeping up the competition with their large budgets for marketing, Te Ariki realised there was a lack of awareness and capacity for NZ businesses to adequately compete. Hoko came to life, bringing with it Kiwi products and services readily and suitably available to consumers.