Te Kaupapa o te Tohu

The symbolism of the design

In June of 2004 Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi implemented a new organisation logo that replaced the former logo borrowed from our subsidiary company, Ngāpuhi Fisheries Limited. This new logo is a representation of Tūhoronuku, the kite that Rāhiri used to bring peace between his two sons, Uenuku and Kaharau.

This kite symbolises its use, a peace-maker, dispute settler, and tohu for bringing the two coasts of Ngāpuhi together and unifying all hapū within Ngāpuhi. From this event came the famous Ngāpuhi whakatauki:

Ka mimiti te puna i Taumārere
Ka toto te puna i Hokianga
Ka toto te puna i Taumārere
Ka mimiti te puna i Hokianga

When the fountain of Taumārere is empty
The fountain of Hokianga is full
When the fountain of Taumārere is full
The fountain of Hokianga is empty

Each notch in the wing span represents the pou or maunga that stand within Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi.