Te Tohu

Starting from the base, the design features kaitiaki, such as the Maki (Orca), Whaitere (Stingray), and Tākapu (Gannett), portraying them as the guardians of the Whangamatā area. In addition, the four Tākapu symbolise ngā hau e whā, indicating the Marae’s inclusive nature, welcoming people from diverse backgrounds.

Central to the emblem is te tara (barb) of the Whaitere. It grounds the Marae’s geographical identity in the Coromandel and Aotearoa, taking inspiration from the traditional Māori name for the Coromandel region.

The emblem integrates natural elements to reflect the local environment. It incorporates maunga, te ngahere, and awa that flow into whanga and eventually into te moana. Specifically, the design details the Otahu River and Estuary on one side and the Moana-anu-anu River and Whangamatā Harbour on the other, effectively capturing Whangamatā between these natural features.

Further, depicting harbours and estuaries signifies their role as sanctuaries for waka, kai moana, and ika. This element underscores the Marae’s function in offering manaakitanga to the community and visiting manuhiri.

Towards the top, ngaru are illustrated to represent the famous surf and beach at Whangamatā. The lines portraying the ebb and flow, tai timu and tai pari, are connected to the Māori ancestral migration, Te Hekenga nō Hawaiki.

The tohu features a Moko Matā on the Whaitere, signifying obsidian, from which Whangamatā originates. The koru design, known as a Koiri, highlights the essential relationships between mātua, tamariki, and mokopuna, emphasising the Marae’s role in facilitating whakawhanaungatanga and tautoko within the community.

Lastly, ngā Atua Māori are interwoven into the design, with each Atua represented through different aspects, reinforcing the Marae’s holistic connection to te ao Māori.