Tohu

Children's Day has its own special tohu, or symbol.You can find it if you look at the top left-hand corner of this page.

Meaning of the tohu

Designed in 2001 by the late Raukawa kuia, Horiana Joyce, the Children's Day tohu reflects images that are unique to New Zealand's natural habitat. Look closely and you will see the greens and browns from our forest, curling koru fronds and shooting stars.

The whakatauki, or proverb, that accompanies the tohu gives this powerful symbol a voice. The whakamarama, the explanation, of the whakatauki was composed by Kui Pani Waru, no Ngati Porou, and inspired by a well-known Kohanga Waiata.

He tohu mō ngā tamariki

Tau ana ko te noho tahitanga
o ngā whānau, o ngā tuākana,
me ngā tēina i roto i te whāriki ngahere.
Arā, ka puāwai ngā tamariki a Matariki.
Mahia ngā mahi o ngā tamariki
hei āpōpō ka tū
hei rangatira.

The symbol for Children's Day

Peaceful earthy colours from the forest
weave a mat for the koru frond to rest upon,
smaller koru are securely nestled.
From this embrace stars burst forth
to realise their potential.
Fulfil the needs of our children and
tomorrow they stand strong.