Our Tohu

This design is called a ‘koropepe’.  The following explanation identifies the various parts of the koropepe and what they represent.

• RAURU (body) The spiral of the body represents the mortal life of the embryo
• RINGARINGA (hands) The hands represent support
• UPOKO (head) The head is looking back which is symbolic of looking at the past so as to survive the future
• KARU (eye) The larger eye represents wisdom and knowledge which comes from within the soul
• TAKAHIWA (shoulder) The shoulder represents the physical; mental and spiritual strength required to maintain and sustain life
• KORU (embryo) The centre of the design represents the embryo of human life
• KIA MATAARA (watch/keep awake) This is a warning to the people

The 'themed' colour of the website is yellow to represent compassion, courage, life and energy. Following on from this theme, the harakeke grass, represents growth and life. The flowers or fruit on the harakeke are a derivative of the mangopare (hammerhead shark) kowhaiwhai pattern (representing strength, power and courage) and the ngaru kowhaiwhai design (representing the cutting of the waves when the waka travelled).