New Tohu reflects new vision

NEW TOHU REFLECTS NEW VISION

Six month’s of talking, drawing and dreaming culminated in the launch of a new tohu for Te Korowai at this year’s AGM in August. Te Korowai’s poutakawaenga Bonita Bigham said the process of collecting ideas had enabled uri from all around the country to contribute to the process of designing the tohu.

“Our people participated in the process through many means, at hui, at wānanga, via pānui and strategy sessions,” she said.

“Seeing our whānau openly sharing their whakaaro about how they saw themselves and wanted to see Ngāruahine presented to the world was hugely inspiring, especially from our rangatahi who will carry our iwi into the future.”

Revisiting the tohu became a focus for Te Korowai after the Board’s work around confirming its 2040 strategic vision. As with the previous replacement of Ngā Hapū o Ngāruahine’s tohu, it was important to create something that honoured the past and acknowledged the present, but the Board also looked for something that represented the future direction and aspirations of our people.

Main themes that emerged from the engagement process included the maunga, our waterways, a korowai, colour, vibrancy, collective strength, whenua, hapūtanga and whanaungatanga. These ideas were eventually distilled down into visual options presented to the Board and canvassed with uri before the new tohu was chosen.

This tohu, designed by and for our people, incorporated as many of their key ideas as possible. The coloured whenu (strands) woven together form a korowai that embraces Maunga Taranaki, represented by the vivid green harakeke which also signifies the strong connection between Ngāruahine uri and the whenua. The two outer blue strands represent the awa that border our tribal rohe, Waingongoro and Taungātara.

The six coloured strands signify the six hapū of Ngāruahine, which are woven together to form a strong and unified iwi. The raranga in the centre is strong and well established, representing the history and present status of Ngāruahine. The strand ends are open, acknowledging the generations to come who will continue to weave our future together. The six colours are beautiful and vibrant, illustrating the diverse uri, their views, talents and mana which together are dynamic, energetic and strong.

Bonita said that kōrero about all the tohu used to represent both Ngā Hapū and Te Korowai will be collected and shared with uri, acknowledging the evolution of Ngāruahine’s achievements and aspirations. Importantly, the kōrero will also recognise the significant contributions of the artists who designed the previous tohu, Hemi Sundgren and Pahi O’Carroll, and the important part their creativity played in the way we, and others, saw ourselves as Ngāruahine.