Published: 27 November, 2023
Strengthening our identity
Last year, Trustees travelled across the motu to meet with whānau and hear their views on the strategic direction of Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui Trust. After meeting with whānau in Ngāmotu/New Plymouth; Tāmaki Mākaurau/Auckland; Te Whanganui-a-Tara/ Wellington; Ōtautahi/Christchurch; Onetahua, Motueka and Waikawa, we heard loud and clear that when it came to communications and engagement, we could do better.
This was also a clear theme at our AGM – the desire for better communications and engagement.
While we have started to make progress in this area, we have purposefully chosen to step back and take a look at our whole identity approach to set us up for stronger engagement with whānau and unlock the identity tools that help us express who we are, where we’ve come from and where we’re going as an iwi.
As part of this work, we formed a partnership with OD&Co from Whakatū Nelson who have assembled an experienced and energised team to support us on this journey.
We have been lucky to have one of the country’s leading contemporary Māori designers, Tyrone Ohia (Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāi te Rangi), come on board as the lead designer for this kaupapa. Tyrone is no stranger to our whānau as a nephew of Aunty Linda and the late Uncle Monty. It was humbling to welcome him, along with members of his team, Max Quinn-Tapara and Kaye Reihana, back to the rohe with a trip out to Kura Te Au with whānau, followed by a cup of tea at Aunty Linda’s in Waikawa. We then had further time exploring Whakatū Nelson before being welcomed onto Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka and connecting with Te Puna o Riuwaka.
A working group of whānau, trustees and kaimahi has been established to guide the work and ensure that we evolve from where we are respectfully and progress an identity that celebrates our distinctiveness as Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui.
Our overall aim is to strengthen our identity toolkit in a way that allows us to uphold our mana and to recognise our Te Ātiawatanga.
We are taking a multi-sensory and multi-disciplinary approach to the identity to ensure it is fit for purpose for us now into the future and supports our whānau to express themselves and stand strong as Te Ātiawa. We will be sure to keep you updated as work progresses.
Front left, Ngawaina Joy Shorrock, Kaye Reihana, from studio Extended Whānau, and Libby Brown, from OD&Co with, back, Max Quinn-Tapara (Extended Whānau), Johny O'Donnell (OD&Co) and Tyrone Ohia (Extended Whānau). A huge mihi to Ngawaina for guiding this special trip.