He Huringa, He Hononga | From Ryze to Hono

Kia ora e te iwi,

Āe, it’s true: we’ve rebranded. After seven years as Ryze, we’re turning the page. We needed a name and look that reflected the mahi we do.

He aha ai? | Why the rebrand and new name?

When Edith joined, we cleaned up our whare (business), and went back to the drawing board. Since 2018 we have helped people get online. That has not changed. ‘Ryze’ no longer reflected our kaupapa or the mahi we deliver. We wanted a name that aligned with our values, and our new direction. We came up with a few names but kept coming back to Hono.

Hono means connect or link. That’s us. From wiring a website to a CRM, to sitting down for a kōrero (chat) when you’re not sure what to do next. The value is not only in what we build but also in how we work alongside you.

While we finally settled on a name, we were faced with some challenges. The domain name for Hono was already taken! But we didn't give up. After a year of friendly check ins with the domain owner, in August 2025 she came to the party and we secured hono.co.nz. We were stoked and grateful she passed the domain on. E mihi kau ana ki a koe e te whaea.

So...... this is what we've been up to. We've been busy behind the scenes preparing for the rebrand. New name. New logo. New colours... and a new website to match.

Rumour has it, that the new Boss said that after all the late nights getting this off the ground, she deserves a....New hair colour. New Makeover.... and a new outfit to match! (I say give her what she deserves...or a pay rise would suffice, I'm sure.)

What’s changed

• New name and website: hono.co.nz
• Clearer pathways to our services
• Everything under one roof: Websites, Digital Marketing, Brand & Design, Strategy & Capability
• James' role: he's no longer the Boss...his wife, Edith is. The Boss at home and the Boss in the office (lucky bugger!)

What hasn’t

• The same crew: James, Edith, and our talented experts
• Our commitment to manaakitanga in every interaction
• Our comms: yup, we've been slack! we'll be sending out regular pānui (newsletters) to keep you updated on the latest, and some Hono crew tips and gems to keep your digital whare humming
• Our social channels: again...slack! while we help everyone else, we haven't kept our own socials sharp. We'll be changing that up, so keep an eye on our posts - you might catch a story or two of James sleeping on the job

Ngā Uara Matua | Our core values

1. Hononga - Connectedness: Relationships first (whakawhanaungatanga), then solutions. We get to know who you are before we design anything.
2. Whakatipuranga - Growth: We help our whānau grow with smarter tools and systems, better ways of working, and support that keeps momentum strong.
3. Mātauranga - Knowledge: We learn, we improve, and we share what works. Tips, templates, and training. No gatekeeping.
4. Āwhina - Support: We’ve got your back. If something breaks at 9pm on a Friday, we’ll front up and fix it - James put his hands up for this, so he's got you! (or perhaps his new Boss promoted him to this job)

What Hono means for you

We’ll keep backing our whānau, from hauora (health) providers and iwi organisations to our small whānau owned pakihi (businesses), and local champions doing the mahi (work).

If you need a website, a digital roadmap that fits your kaupapa, or simply a kōrero (chat), we’re here.

Ko Hono Mātou | We Are Hono

Check out the new website and join our kawerongo hiko (e-newsletter).

Nā mātou,

The Hono Crew