Te Hoe Whakaruruhau

This taonga is a large Hoe Waka, carved to represent leadership, guidance, and responsibility. I have named it Te Hoe Whakaruruhau – the paddle of shelter and protection – symbolising the role of the kaiurungi, the steerer of the waka, who must guide their people with wisdom while safeguarding those they serve. In this case, the hoe was created for a business that passes leadership on from one person to the next. Each leader serves for a time before entrusting the role to another, and this taonga will be handed on as a reminder of the values and responsibilities carried by each leader.

The hoi is 16 centimetres long, a substantial piece with a presence that matches the weight of its meaning. Three grooves are carved down the face, each one representing a core value: rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga, and whanaungatanga. These grooves all begin at the very point of the hoe where it first enters the water, ensuring that every stroke moving forward is grounded in these guiding values. Along the edge, notches are carved to symbolise the generations of leaders who have come before – the shoulders upon which today’s leaders stand – and those who will follow in the future. They are a call to honour the past, act with integrity in the present, and create a strong foundation for those yet to come.

On the opposite side near the base is a carved tui feather, chosen for its special significance to this business. The tui is known for its adaptability and voice, and here it represents the guidance and wisdom of leadership, as well as the ability to carry messages and inspire others. The feathers of the tui collectively represent the people in the organisation, acknowledging that it is the feathers that make it possible for the tui to fly.

The kaupapa of this taonga reflects how the business understands leadership. They lead by guiding direction in their field, by upholding values of rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga, and whanaungatanga, and by nurturing the careers of their people so they and their whānau can flourish. Passing this hoe waka through successive leaders symbolises that leadership is never owned, but carried for a time before being entrusted to the next kaiurungi. It acknowledges the wisdom of those who came before, the responsibility of those in the present, and the need to build and prepare new leaders for generations to come.

Carving Te Hoe Whakaruruhau was a privilege. It carries the weight of tradition, responsibility, and vision – a reminder that leadership is something inherited, shared, and passed on, always anchored in values and always moving forward.