Tohu

Employer

Fire and Emergency NZ

Services

Illustration, Merchandise, Print

Date

April - May 2021

Te Tohu is awarded to Fire and Emergency staff who read the new He Tīmatanga Kōrero guide and complete the online knowledge check. It symbolises the owner's progression in their cultural education and support for Fire and Emergency's commitment to working with Māori as tangata whenua. I worked closely with the Pou Takawaenga Māori (Māori Liaison Team) to design the tohu. It was completed over two months with several concepts and ideas presented to the wider team for consideration before the final design was chosen.

My first series of illustrations focused on the tohu being shaped as a kāhu feather, representing the story of it having been scorched by the fire of Mahuika
My second series of concept illustrations that include chevrons, waka paddles, koru and hammerhead shapes
The final series of chevron design refinements

The tip of the chevron faces upward, resembling the peak of a mountain and an acknowledgement of the mahi that lies ahead, and each one is hand crafted in New Zealand from recycled rimu.

The design features the nine stars of Matariki, with Hiwa-i-te-rangi highlighted: Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the youngest star in the Matariki cluster and is associated with wishes and future aspirations. The steps of the Fire and Emergency poutama are also included, representing the never-ending journey to strive and improve.

The final tohu, shown in a row of three with the accompanying cards on a wooden table
An alternate angle of the final tohu, shown in a row of three with the accompanying cards on a wooden table

This was my personal favourite design project as part of my full-time role at Fire and Emergency, and I will never forget the morning it was officially launched. Over 1,000 staff completed the programme and were awarded their tohu within the first year of launch. I could not be more proud of the Kaupapa Māori team and their success.

Print samples of the tohu being shown to Fire and Emergency NZ
Staff at Fire and Emergency NZ deciding on the tohu's final size and print finishes and how they look on uniforms
The final tohu, casually photographed in a clutter on the table
The final tohu, attached to their backing cards, on display at the first Fire and Emergency NZ Matariki event
A close-up of the final Fire and Emergency NZ tohu attached to its backing card

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