TUATARA O TAKAPOUREWA
The project for Ngāti Koata, in association with the Ministry of Education, was a delight to be a part of. The brief was to design a logo and illustrate a song composed by John Phillips and Louisa Paul of Ngāti Koata. We created a poster and large book for young children.
The idea was to create a teacher resource pack to teach our tamariki that they are kaitiaki (guardians) of the Tuatara. Furthermore, it will help educate them about the significance of this wonderful creature.
Fortunately there is a lot of information and images that I could use for research. After creating a range of options, Ngāti Koata chose this plucky image. It is fun, targeted to our under 7’s age group and proved enjoyable to draw in the range of settings within the story.
The pattern in the background and within the book design is the Ngāti Koata tohu designed by the iwi’s Aunty Puhanga. It really lifts the design by adding the narrative of the iwi being kaitiaki of the Tuatara o Takapourewa. The Tuatara are also one of the kaitiaki for Ngāti Koata, specifically of knowledge.
