Flags design-2022-02-14

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Our Research

Research included a study of the meaning of the Houses of the school, the Maori symbols, discussion with few Maori people and the
study of the TGS brand guidelines.
With regards to the use of the Lion, we have reproduced the relevant section of the brand guidelines and hence avoided the use of
different perspective of the lion in our first design option. The second option, we have used the Lion in a different perspective.

Lion

The lion can be used without the other elements of the crest, particularly in applications where youth and vitality are to be emphasised. The wordmark needs
to appear in association with the lion to identify the school and distinguish it from others, but there is more freedom in how the two are combined than with
the more formal crest.

Takapuna Grammar School Brand Guidelines – November 2016 8

Option 1

Takapuna Grammar School House Names and Traditional Maori symbols

The meaning of the TGS House names MANA, KAHA, IHI, WEHI and MAIA are brought out using five extremely popular Maori
symbols - the Toki blade, the Fish hook, the Twist, the Whale Tail and the Manaia.. The way these popular Maori symbols were drawn,
their orientation and size all influenced their intended meaning.

Extremely popular Maori symbols

Mana

Meaning: Power and Influence

Toki (adze)

Meaning: Strength and Power
The toki blade represents strength. In traditional Maori society the toki had two uses. Firstly it was carved into a
chunky blade and either attached to a wooden handle or held in the hand. Here it was used to cut down trees and
carve out waka among other things. Secondly it was carved into a finer blade and attached to an equally ornate
wooden handle. These ornate axes were only wielded by strong chiefs in the tribe and were purely ceremonial.

Mana and Toki

The toki had to be powerful enough to carve waka and cut trees. And only strong chiefs with a lot of mana could
wield the toki poutangata (ceremonial axe).

Power & Influence

Kaha

Meaning: Strong and Energetic

The matau (fish hook)

Meaning: Strength, prosperity and peace

The fish hook symbol is said to represent prosperity and safe travel over water. Traditionally Maori were very
reliant on the bounty they caught from the sea to survive. It constituted a large amount of their daily food needs
and with it Maori flourished as a people. Maori had a very strong connection to Tangaroa, god of the sea and
attributed this abundance to him.

Kaha and Fish Hook

In Maori myth, Maui used a magic fish hook carved from the jawbone of his grandmother which was so strong that
it could pull up New Zealand’s North Island from the bottom of the ocean in the form of a huge fish.

KAHA
Strong & Energetic

IHI

Meaning: Force and Personal Magnetism / Charisma

Pikorua (twist)

Meaning: Infinity, Love, Bonding of friendship to eternity.
It’s a powerful expression of loyalty because the arms of the twist have no end point, just like lifelong relationships

Ihi and Twist

The personal qualities represented by the twist drive personal magnetism and charisma and lead to bonding and
long term relationships.

Force & Charisma

MAIA

Meaning: Brave and Courageous

Manaia

Meaning: Spirtual Guard, protects from evil.
The Manaia is a mythological creature usually depicted as having the head of a bird and the tail of a fish and the
body of a man, though it is sometimes depicted as a bird, a serpent, or a human figure in profile. A lot of people
wear the manaia symbol as a personal guardian with some saying it can protect against evil.

Maia and Manaia

The brave and courageous manaia protects and defends against evil.

Brave & Courageous

WEHI

Meaning: To be awesome and show respect

Whale tail

Meaning: Strength, intelligence and harmony with the occean

The Maoris believe that the first man came to New Zealand on the back of a whale. The whale tail is still used in
Maori culture as a symbol of all the protection and good luck the whales have bestowed.

In Maori cosmology, whales are the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the oceans. They were thought of in awe,
as supernatural beings, and often deemed tapu, or sacred. In some cases, whales were a sign indicating to a tribe
that it should settle in a particular place. In others, whales were a guide.

Wehi and Whale Tail

The Whale was thought to be an awesome and supernatural. The Wehi house aims to be awesome and yet show
respect to others by living in hamony with their fellow students, the community and the school.

Be Awesome & Show Respect

Option 2

Lion in a different persective.

MANA

Power & Influence

Force & Charisma

maia

Brave & Courageous

KAHA

Strong & Energetic

wehi

Be Awesome & Show Respect

Trusted in New Zealand since 1978

Design

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