Te Tīwhana Māui
Te Tīwhana Māui was gifted to Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou by our renowned Tairāwhiti tohunga, Tā Derek Lardelli.
This design draws inspiration from Māui-tikitiki-a-Taranga, our revered tipuna of Te Tairāwhiti, celebrated for his strength, daring, curiosity, creativity, and his courage to challenge the unknown.
The tohu reflects the left-hand Tīwhana rays of Māui’s Mataora, symbolising the left-brain qualities of creativity, innovation, observation, and exploration. These attributes recall Māui’s ability to push boundaries, transform the world around him, and carve new pathways for his people. In the same way, Te Rūnanganui carries forward this legacy for our generations of tomorrow.
Te Tīwhana Māui reminds us that as we step into new spaces, face fresh challenges, and adapt our Tikanga to meet the needs of today, we do so with the same spirit of innovation, boldness, and transformation that guided Māui. Yet, within that journey, the tohu also anchors us, to remain grounded in our Reo and Tikanga, our whakapapa, our histories, our whenua and moana, our globally unique identity as Ngāti Porou.
Therefore, Te Tīwhana Māui is not just a logo. It is a living story, a symbol of our past, our present, and the shared vision we carry into the future we are shaping together.
