Kupe’s Waka.
Kupe’s Waka is an adaption of Gordon Walter’s koru forms. The black and white koru’s represent the oars of the Waka that carried the great Kupe, first discover to Aotearoa, land of the long white cloud. The Waka also represents all the other travellers following in his footsteps, past and future, to develop this country. The linking of the black and white koru’s is the partnership forged between Maori & European in the Treaty of Waitangi.
The black and white is the modern colours of New Zealand; representing the diversity of cultures in our modern nation.
The colours red, white and blue are symbolic of the historical connection to the monarchy and interwoven with this are the Maori colours black, white and red.
The white koru's are symbolic of Aotearoa: Land of the long white clouds. Also the unfurling fronds are representative of the ‘Silver Fern’ as our national icon worn proudly by our international sport representatives and also a symbol that marks our headstones of our sons and daughters that served our country and are now buried in foreign lands.
The blue and red represents Rangi & Papa; the Sky & Earth.