Tohu

3D, Illustration, Merchandise, Print
April — May 2021

Hiwa-i-te-rangi launched He Tīmatanga Kōrero, an introductory guide to Kaupapa Māori for Fire and Emergency New Zealand. We're asking our people to read the guide and sit the online knowledge check to progress their awareness and understanding of Māori culture. After passing the knowledge check you will be awarded Te Tohu, a pin you can wear to show progression in your cultural education.

- Fire and Emergency

Te Tohu is awarded to Fire and Emergency staff who read the new He Tīmatanga Kōrero guide and complete the online knowledge check. It symbolises the owner's progression in their cultural education and support for Fire and Emergency's commitment to working with Māori as tangata whenua. I worked closely with the Pou Takawaenga Māori (Māori Liaison Team) to design the tohu. It was completed over two months with several concepts and ideas presented to the wider team for consideration before the final design was chosen.

The tip of the chevron faces upward, resembling the peak of a mountain and an acknowledgement of the mahi that lies ahead, and each one is hand crafted in New Zealand from recycled rimu. The design features the nine stars of Matariki, with Hiwa-i-te-rangi highlighted: Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the youngest star in the Matariki cluster and is associated with wishes and future aspirations. The steps of the Fire and Emergency poutama are also included, representing the never-ending journey to strive and improve.

This was my personal favourite design project as part of my full-time role at Fire and Emergency, and I will never forget the morning it was officially launched. Over 1,000 staff completed the programme and were awarded their tohu within the first year of launch. I could not be more proud of the Kaupapa Māori team and their success.

More information

My first series of illustrations focused on the tohu being shaped as a kāhu feather, representing the story of it having been scorched by the fire of Mahuika

My second series of concept illustrations that include chevrons, waka paddles, koru and hammerhead shapes

The final series of chevron design refinements

The final tohu, shown in a row of three with the accompanying cards on a wooden table

An alternate angle of the final tohu, shown in a row of three with the accompanying cards on a wooden table

Print samples of the tohu being shown to Fire and Emergency NZ

Staff at Fire and Emergency NZ deciding on the tohu's final size and print finishes and how they look on uniforms

The final tohu, casually photographed in a clutter on the table

The final tohu, attached to their backing cards, on display at the first Fire and Emergency NZ Matariki event

A close-up of the final Fire and Emergency NZ tohu attached to its backing card

Let's make something amazing together

I take on a limited number of freelance and volunteer design projects each year. Get in touch now to secure your spot.

Contact me