



Guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Realness takes guidance from Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which shapes how we operate. Our kaupapa honours its principles in upholding Māori as Tangata Whenua. Te Tiriti provides a framework for connection, collaboration, and equity-values we are committed to as we work toward an Aotearoa Hou that reflects the vision of our tūpuna.

In short The Realness is a No frills independent search engine & Directory to find artisan "Everything".
The long(er) version
The Realness connects customers with artisan businesses, indie owner-operators, and one-of-a-kind offerings. Every listing carries the name of the person or people behind it, alongside a first-of-its-kind Indigenous search option. Free from advertising clutter, The Realness is a community where being part of it says who you are. Every offering different, every operator values-led.
For The People, By The People.

Tangata Whenua in Te Reo Māori means “People of the land.” Our Tangata Whenua - First Nations/Indigenous badge honours the deep connection that native peoples have to their land, recognising that their roots are inseparable from it.
When you see the Tangata Whenua - First Nations badge on a profile, it signifies that the offering is native to the land, nation or country where they operate.
Featuring our local & global Tangata Whenua - Indigenous whānau is a core aspect of The Realness, reflecting the vision of our founder, Damaris - Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa who is Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa - New Zealand.

In 2011, then-restaurateur Damaris Coulter envisioned a new way for people to discover independent, owner-operated businesses and kaupapa. After co-owning and running Coco’s Cantina in Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland, she saw how hard it was for unique operators to stand out against cookie-cutter corporates and privileged entities. Their visibility often came from inherited wealth and systemic advantage, rather than the skin in the game.
Determined to change this, she created The Realness-a digital platform designed to connect and showcase artisans, owner-operated businesses, and Indigenous operators. The Realness exists to honour the brave operators sharing their offerings and themselves with the world, and the knowledge holders whose work preserves craft, keeps the world interesting, sustains culture, and helps build a more balanced, equitable world.
Free Palestine, Uphold Te Tiriti, End Empire and Colonial Violence, and Rebuild Together for Collective Liberation.

With the ability to discover 300+ independent retailers, makers, services, experiences, online merchants and spots to eat & drink - The Realness champions independent offerings across Aotearoa and beyond. Need a sailor, flowers, perfume or pants? Our directory has you covered, and best of all, each business is operated by the people who own them!

Get in Touch with The Realness Whānau - Please note our office day is Manerei/Monday
📧 General enquiries & profile updates: hello@therealness.world
🔄 To update your profile: Fill in this form
📸 To send new images for your profile: Email them to us hello@therealness.world
↩️ To be removed from the directory: Email us at hello@therealness.world
Connect with us on social media:
📷 Instagram: @therealnessworld

Here are some of the Social impact change makers, freedom fighters, purpose driven Kaupapa & organisations, Decolonisers, Indigenisers, Healers, Helpers, Social entrepreneurs, NGO's, Businesses, Advocates, Community leaders, Humanitarians, and visionaries that we love and would love you to know about.
The Slow Factory - "We redesign socially & environmentally harmful systems – we want what’s good for the Earth & good for people".
YK Hong - Anti-Oppression culture shifter, speaker, trainer, author + tech justice "Oppressors try to erase history so that they can repeat it".
Leah Manaema Avene (she/them) - "Leah’s work aims to scrutinize and dismantle colonial systems whilst revering and learning from the inter-generational stories, wisdom and strength of the people and communities most impacted by their structures".
Justice For Palestine - Justice For Palestine "Promoting justice, peace and freedom for the Palestinian people".
BDS - Boycott, Divest Sanctions "BDS is a Palestinian led movement for freedom, justice and equality".
Action Station - ActionStation is an independent, crowdfunded, community campaigning organisation.
Clothing The Gaps - "Clothing The Gaps creates merch with a message that sparks conversations. We make clothes that influence social change by uniting people (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) through fashion and a cause".
Nuku Women - "Using a creative, storytelling platform, NUKU amplifies Indigenous female change-makers, system shakers and leaders through audio podcasts, photography, videography, books, art and live events. We support wāhine to transform thinking, transfer and gain knowledge across generations, uncover layers to cultural identity and be inspired to live authentically".
NZPC - NZPC | Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers' Collective is a New Zealand wide organisation, which is run by sex workers for sex workers. NZPC advocates for the rights, safety, health, and well being of all sex workers. They are a grass roots not for profit organisation who provide information and services for people who are doing sex work or thinking about doing sex work.
Womens Refuge - "Our vision is for all women and children in Aotearoa to live free from domestic and family violence."

Ko Pūwheke te maunga,
Ko Karikari, ko Tokerau ngā moana,
Ko Māmaru te waka,
Ko Kahutianui te tupuna,
Ko Te Parata te tangata,
Ko Te Whānau Moana me Te Rorohuri ngā hapu,
Ko Haiti-tai-marangai te marae
Ko Ngāti Kahu, Ko Te Rarawa, ko NgāPuhi ngā iwi
Ko Damaris ahau.
I’m Damaris, Founder & Head Hustler of The Realness World. As a proud grandchild of Muriwhenua & Te Tai Tokerau, and a mother, daughter, sister, partner, and collective liberation worker, my work reaches across the nation. I’m committed to indigenising every space, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi & He Whakaputanga, and fighting for a Free Palestine and an End to colonial violence globally. I’m grateful you’re here exploring The Realness movement. Ngā mihi xx D