Kay Benseman and Joe Salmon are tāngata Tiriti, grateful to belong in Aotearoa by the rights and responsibilities extended to them through Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

As Pākehā, their families whakapapa to Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Germany and England. Joe (he/him) grew up in Napier, and Kay (she/her) in Whanganui and they acknowledge the mana whenua of these rohe. Ngā mihi maioha ki Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaungā, ki Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, ki Ngā Rauru Kītahi hoki.

Kay began learning te reo Māori in the late 90s and then undertook immersion study to support the language reclamation goals of her wider whānau. Joe established his graphic design practice in 2009 and met Kay the same year. Married in 2013, they make a great team with a complementary combination of skills and interests.

Pito Press* grew out of Joe & Kay’s experiences speaking te reo Māori as a Pākehā family. We contract Te Taura Whiri registered translators.

Kay and Joe

*pito (‘pi’ as in ‘peapod’ and ‘to’ as in ‘tornado’ in English) translates from te reo Māori to ‘belly button’. A pito is a permanent reminder of our whakapapa. We are connected to those who have come before us, and those who are yet to come. This name has been reviewed by Te Taura Whiri registered translators who are mana whenua.