Te aho tīpuna,
te aho whenua, te aho titiwai.
A radiant tīpuna light shining across us all,
illuminating wisdoms of the whenua.
Design touches almost everything in the world we live in today, mostly invisibly, and by stealth! By the time we are familiar with it, it’s already done. The houses we live in, cars we drive, clothes we wear, pens we write with, films we watch; somewhere there’s the hand of a designer in all of them. The problem is, all design is not necessarily good design.
To execute it well, we have to consider its impact: on our culture and psychology, the environment and resources, on energy use and future generations. The unique kaitiakitanga factor. This life-affirming dimension in design resonates well within our Polynesian genes.
Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa and Aotearoa gave us an environment that flows creativity into our bloodlines. Intuitively, we respond to the gifts of her form, growing skills to fashion images of what we discovered, oratory and song to mimic what we heard, dance to reflect the grace of movement in wind and tide. No wonder it is our creativity that has led us to our greatest triumph: the very survival of our precious culture.
– Carin Wilson, Kāhui Whetū, Ngā Aho
Ranginui whaiwhakaaro,
Papatūānuku whakaarotau.
Attune our minds towards (the cosmos) Ranginui,
but be connected to (Mother Earth) Papatūānuku
I was on the top of Mauao for Matariki 2022, and there was a whole range of karakia that took place for the nine whetū of Matariki. All of those karakia felt like aho connecting us to the stars. These are the kinds of things that intrigue me about the idea and poignancy of Aho.
– Ross Hemera, Kāhui Whetū, Ngā Aho
In Taane’s search for the uha - the female essence. He was reminded to consult with She who gave him life, Papatūānuku. Kaua e wareware to Ūkaipō - Do not forget mother earth. For Māori, but also many indigenous peoples, we are not separate from the environment and not separate from Papatūānuku and Ranginui. We are all part of the same. Through whakapapa and old knowledge, [we] can help protect biodiversity and whenua, Papatūānuku.
– Diane Menzies, Kāhui Whetū, Ngā Aho
A part of my vision is for both my own iwi and for Aotearoa to enjoy recognition of the mana that we are entitled to. To be able to exercise our rights and responsibilities wisely and effectively, in keeping with tikanga and kōrero tuku iho.
- Alan Titchener, Kāhui Whetū, Ngā Aho
