Fresh From The Field: Together For Te Tiriti — By Extended Whānau
See how Extended Whānau is supporting Te Tiriti movement in today’s edition of Fresh from the Field
Fresh from the Field is a weekly article series sharing fresh and inspiring work from the Design Assembly community. Want to submit your work to Fresh From The Field? Fill out the form here.
The brief
With the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill passing it’s first reading in parliament and undergoing examination by select committee, Extended Whānau were approached by ActionStation Aotearoa to work on a campaign that emphasises kotahitanga and the importance of Te Tiriti for all peoples of Aotearoa.
ActionStation Aotearoa had spent time talking to iwi leaders and strategising how best to support the Te Tiriti movement, and it was agreed that the campaign needed to be grounded in the ao Māori, and welcoming of tauiwi supporters.
The Design Response
Tyrone Ohia, Founder & Creative Director at Extended Whānau explains “From a te ao Māori perspective, when we think about partnerships and our relationship to one another, it’s hard to go past the pōhiri ceremony. Wrapped up in that is the dynamic of manuhiri and hau kainga, conflict and resolution, and the acknowledgement of people and place.”
“A symbolic moment within this, is the hongi. It is an iconic part of our culture. Most of us have experienced it. You could say it’s our version of a handshake, but it’s much deeper than that. It is said the first hongi happened when Tāne breathed life into Hineahuone and created mankind. Since then, it has been a way for us to share breath, to see eye to eye, and to acknowledge one another. Through these interactions it is a symbol of life and unity.”
“It is also intertwined with conflict and resolution. When manuhiri descend onto a marae, they must pass through the realm of Tūmatauenga, the god of war, before arriving at the realm of Rongo, the god of peace. Through this process, challenges and conflicts are addressed and resolved, and we cross the threshold from being strangers to being unified. Regardless of what side of the hongi we’re on, we now have responsibilities to one another.”
“As designers, our responsibility is often to create things that people can use, and things that carry a message. We have a lot of respect and belief in the power of visual symbols to do this. How can it be bold enough to be recognised at a distance? How can it be distinctive, but also simple so other people can reproduce it themselves? How can it relate to a wider cause through colour? And so on.”
Together For Te Tiriti adds to the Toitū Te Tiriti movement and conversation in the hopes that our collective efforts paint the picture of the future we want to live in and the future we want our kids and their kids to live in.
The Design Team
Tyrone Ohia
Max Quinn-Tapara
Kaye Reihana
Collaborators
Kassie Hartendorp, Rangimarie Sophie Jolley, Grace Newton, Joseph Salmon
The Client Team
ActionStation Aotearoa
Instagram: @actionstationnz
Fresh from the Field is a weekly article series sharing fresh and inspiring work from the Design Assembly community. Want to submit your work to Fresh From The Field? Fill out the form here.
