What is Te Ara Tauwhirotanga
Te Ara Tauwhirotanga is the Sector wide Model of Care for Te Whatu Ora Lakes area Mental Health & Addictions. It was developed through extensive consultation with the community including service providers, service users, whānau, and local iwi. It identifies what the community said was important to them.
Tangata - People
Tikanga - Values
Taiao - Environment
The meaning behind the Te Ara Tauwhirotanga symbolism
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.