| Our Past: |
The Tukaiaia represents the sky and ‘our past’. The Tukaiaia is an extinct sea eagle that once flew the airways over Aotea and its environs. |
| Our Present: |
Te Mauri represents the water and is the symbol for ‘the present’. Te Mauri is the shark and Ngati Rehua’s Kaitiaki over the sea. According to Nupere Ngawaka, ‘Te Mauri’ was the name of the one eyed shark that watched over Ngati Rehua whenever they were at sea. |
| Our Future: |
The tuatara is a symbol of our future and represents the earth. According to Whetu McGregor, the old people carried the Tuatara in their coats and jerseys, as a means to keep cool, while collecting mutton-birds on the Pokohinu Islands. |
|
|
