Thea ceramics is a busy, small production studio here on Waiheke Island esstablished since 2015. We create pieces for our loyal customers though our online store, we service a range of stores in Aoteroa (see our stockiests for a full list) and we have succesfully worked on bespoke projects for; Te Tongaroa, Huka Lodge, One Queen street intercontanental, Tantalus estate, Tala, Mr Morris, Pics Peanut butter, Ceres organics, Ben & Jerrys, Bhone Bauty, Mt Atkinson Coffee, Curio Nior, Bid foods, The Realworld are just a few. We have been fetured in notable cookbooks and magazines and love working with foodies. 

Thea is a two person team

Esther McDonald

Ko Ahuahu tōku maunga
Ko Omapere tōku wai maori
Ko Maatatua toku waka
Ko ngā Puhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Pukenga ōku iwi
Ko Parewhenua tōku whare tupuna
Ko tipu ake au a Waiheke Island
Ko Esther tōku ingioa

I am the owner, deisgner and maker at Thea ceramics, I was taught how to throw by my uncle Shane Mcdonald who was taught by my Nan Althea Kypers who the buisness is named after. I have a bachalor of eduction and was in Ece for 12 years before I became a Māmā and potter.

I speciialise in wheel work and like to explore wild uku to connect to my whakapapa and extend my learning and connection to whenua.

See Esther McDonalds work

Julia Kate Mack
Julia Kate Mack has been a studio technicion at Thea Ceramics since 2019, her hakapapa is cook island māori, samoan, irish and english. She has an arts degree in anthropoligy and socioligy from Auckland University. She is a mother to Alister and Briseis and has an arts practice in uku and earth pigments.