Ora Ale

Designer: Monique Robins
Illustration: Kate O’Hara
Project Type: Produced, Commercial Work
Client: Ora Craft Brewery
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Packaging Contents: Beer
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Glass Bottle, Cardboard
Printing Process: Offset

Ora Ale is not just a normal beer, Ora is brewed to a recipe handed down through the generations with loving devotion and profound respect for tradition. This and the indigenous herb Kawakawa are responsible for its smooth texture, the golden colour and the distinctive, slightly sweet taste.

Kawakawa has strong spiritual connections for Maori and a special place in rongoa, traditional Maori medicine. It is said to purify the blood and cleanse the liver. In order to use the plant, permission was needed from tribal elders. Kawakawa is harvested following tikunga (Maori custom) and includes saying a karakia (prayer) before entering the forest. During the harvest the sight of the New Zealand native Fantail bird fluttering above creates a truly special experience.

This care and respect has been reflected in the handcrafted label design. Kate O’Hara created a stunningly beautiful illustration of the Kawakawa plants with the fantails fluttering around the Ora brand.