The meaning of the Waikanae Jobs for Nature Tohu
https://www.waikanaeawa.org.nz/waikanae-ki-uta-ki-tai/Waikanae Jobs for Nature is a significant project of Waikaane Ki Uta Ki Tai (more info about it https://www.waikanaeawa.org.nz/waikanae-ki-uta-ki-tai/)
The Tohu or logo was created by Ringatoi / Artist Vianney Parata (Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira me Ngāti Kahungunu).
This tohu captures Waikanae ki Uta ki Tai as a
means to describe our rohe (Taiao catchment) from Maunga Kapakapanui out to
Kapiti Island, between these lies Kopaeara (our Tuatara Kaitiaki) depicted in
the shape of Waikanae awa, connecting ki Uta ki Tai, and all the natural
elements of our Taiao in between. This links our project to another important
iwi Taiao project, and our iwi Kaitiakitanga Plan for Te Ātiawa ki
Whakarongotai, both established in 2019.
Green triangle – Te Waewae Kapiti o Tara raua ko
Rangitāne. Kapiti island. In the form of Ngā kete o te Wānanga.
Brown Triangle – Kapakapanui Maunga in the form of Ngā
kete o te Wānanga.
Ngā kete o te Wānanga refer to the three baskets of
knowledge. Tāne scaled the highest heavens to Toi-o-ngā-Rangi to capture these
baskets of knowledge. Each one holding knowledge of different times. Te kete
Tuātea the basket of ancestral knowledge of mākutu and whaiwhaiā and evil,
including war – one of the three baskets of knowledge and also includes
agriculture, tree or wood work, stone work and earth works. Te kete Tuauri of
sacred knowledge. This basket relates to the creation of the natural world and
the patterns of energy that operate behind the world of sense perception and
the realm of the tohunga. It includes the knowledge of karakia. Te kete Aronui
is the basket of knowledge of aroha, peace and the arts and crafts which
benefit the Earth and all living things – This basket relates to knowledge
acquired through careful observation of the environment. It is also the basket
of ritual, of literature, philosophy and is sometimes regarded as the basket of
the humanities.
The pattern of the Kopaeara was inspired by the
kōwhaiwhai of Maui. This kōwhaiwhai talks about the manipulation that Maui had
over the land, for example fishing up the North Island of Aotearoa or what we
call Te Ika a Maui. The arms of the Kopaeara are an added feature that
represents the kōrero of many hands make light work, and that of the people who
will look after our whenua.
The green and yellow kōwhaiwhai is also a stylised
version of the Rua Kumara pattern which talks about the whakapapa of the kumara
from Hawaiki ki Aotearoa much like the migration of Māori. This was the only
foreign kai brought to this whenua that stands the test of time.
The single dark brown lines are called Haehae which
represents whakapapa. Past, present and future. We are the kaitiaki of this
land as our tipuna were in the past and as our mokopuna will be in future. We
are the present.
The little triangles added to the haehae are called Niho Taniwha. This represents the spiritual side and reminds us of the dangers in our world so is a motif to use as protection.
