Meet the Standfast Crew: Haunui

At Standfast, our plushies aren’t just cuddly toys — they’re characters grounded in real people, real horses, and real stories. Each one is based on a person who walks the land, works with horses, and lives with heart. These are characters grounded in whakapapa, whenua, and whānau.

Today, we introduce you to Haunui — in plushie form, and in real life.

Haunui: The Horseman from Raukokore

Haunui is one of nine siblings — five brothers and four sisters — raised on the rugged East Coast. He now lives at the family homestead in Raukokore, where the ocean meets the bush, and the horses move with the rhythm of the land.From a young age, Haunui was guided by our late father, John Grant, a true horseman who taught all his tamariki the value of quiet strength, clear presence, and respect for animals. Haunui listened. Watched. Learned. And over the years, those teachings became the way he moved through the world — calm, capable, and deeply connected.

Today, he carries that legacy forward through his own kaupapa: Standfast Horsemanship, where he teaches others to work with horses in a way that’s grounded, honest, and real.

The Showman Beneath the Stillness

Though Haunui moves through life with a quiet confidence, don’t be fooled, there’s a bit of a showman in him too. He can turn heads when he rides bridleless, crack a whip with precision, or spin a horse like he’s dancing.

He doesn’t seek the spotlight, but when it finds him, he handles it with style.

It’s that rare mix of humble and bold that makes him unforgettable: the horseman who leads with feel, but knows how to light up a crowd when the moment calls.

Rig — More Than a Horse

Haunui’s main horse is Rig, a powerful stallion named after our uncle Robert Ian Grant. Rig isn’t just a mount, he’s part of the whānau. Strong, watchful, and deeply attuned, Rig reflects everything Haunui is: dependable, instinctive, and connected to something bigger than himself.

Their partnership didn’t happen overnight. It was built over time with trust, patience, and presence. The kind of relationship that doesn’t need words to be understood.

Family Runs Deep

Haunui is a dedicated father and husband. He and his wife Bryanna are raising their two tamariki, Kayde and Acacia, on the same whenua where we were brought up. Their lives are full of riding, hunting, fishing, teaching, and everyday moments of whānau connection.

Whether he’s tracking a deer, working with a horse, hauling in a line from the rocks, or guiding Kayde through the bush, Haunui brings the same steady energy to everything he does.

The PlushyVersion

The Haunui plushie carries all of that with him. He might be small and soft, but he represents something solid, a protector, a provider, a leader by example. Though he’s not the eldest, he’s taken on the mantle of guiding and holding space for the whānau.

There’s loyalty stitched into every seam. The kind of strength that shows up again and again no matter what’s needed. He’s the hunter, the horseman, the one who makes sure everyone is safe, fed, and grounded.

This plushie is for tamariki who need someone steadfast in their corner. For the kids who carry a lot, who look after others, who need to know that someone’s got their back. And yes there’s a little bit of swagger stitched in there too.

More Than a Toy — A Whānau Connection

Haunui is just one part of the Standfast plushie whānau, alongside Aroha, Ahikaa, and King the horse. Each plushie is part of a bigger story, one that’s lived out on the land, in the paddock, and now, in homes across the motu.

You can bring Haunui home or collect the full crew.

To get to know Haunui more, go to his facebook page