AROA is about care in the everyday — choosing what’s needed, and letting that be enough.
Our story
As a mum of three, I spent years doing the everyday work of family life - cooking, cleaning, washing up, and doing it all again the next day. Like many homes, our cupboards filled with large bottles of dish liquid that promised a lot but didn’t quite deliver.
They took up space, they didn’t last as long as they should have, and many were harsh - abrasive on my hands, drying my skin.
I have soft nails and sensitive hands, and I became increasingly conscious of what I was using every day, and what gets absorbed through the skin over time.
At the same time, the waste never sat right. Giant plastic bottles, replaced often, filled mostly with water - it felt unnecessary.
A different way
While travelling in the islands, I came across dishwashing paste - a concentrated alternative that used far less product and far less packaging. Later, my daughter noticed the same format while travelling through South America. It was simple, effective, and practical.
But back home in New Zealand, there was nothing like it.
What did exist overseas was often harsh, brightly coloured, abrasive, and tough on hands. It didn’t reflect how we live here - or what we value.
So we decided to create something different.
Made for New Zealand homes
AROA was created to offer a choice - one that aligns with Kiwi values of care, practicality, and respect for our environment.
Our dish paste is:
Concentrated, so a little goes a long way
Low-tox and gentle on hands
Designed to reduce waste and clutter
Made in New Zealand, by a New Zealand-owned family business
AROA is designed for people who care about their homes and the choices they make.
Care. Considered. Concentrated.