Te Ara Tauwhirotanga Meaning

The colours reflect the Lakes region.

The green reflects the maunga, forests and outdoors.

The red reflects the geothermal nature of the area.

The blue reflects the sky and lakes.

The centre picture, depicting faces with pressed noses (hongi) represents people being at the heart of everything and speaks also to connection.

The second circle around the centre faces incorporates elements of the traditional Te Arawa and Tuwharetoa designs representing Te Pupu and Te Hoata, sisters of Ngatoroirangi the tohunga of the Te Arawa canoe.

When Ngatoroirangi was climbing the summit to Tongariro he faced many challenges, including a blizzard. Seized by the snow, he called to his sisters Kuiwai and Haungaroa to send fire.

Upon hearing the calls of their brother they sent two demigod siblings; Te Pupu and Te Hoata to take heat to their brother.

How Te Ara Tauwhirotanga was developed

The mental health system’s new model of care for the Lakes area is the product of a five month co-development process with tangata whaiora, people with lived experience of mental illness, whanau/family members, communities and a range of local service providers (DHB clinical staff, NGOs and primary care).

The model of care is named Te Ara Tauwhirotanga to echo the aspirations of the community that services and systems are designed to “act with kindness”.