"Wakatū"

Whakatū is the Māori name by which the Nelson region is commonly known, using the word Wakatū instead was a decision made by our kaumātua to be inclusive of our tribal diversity.

Our kaumātua (elders) know the word "Wakatū" to mean the standing up (tū). This is in reference to the standing up of the canoe (waka) of Potoru.

Wakatū is also used in an old lament were it translates to mean standing:

  Mā te 'Paraha e whakatū, mai te toiere – e 

With Te Rauparaha standing in the bow 

Sung by Kauhoe upon hearing of the death of her husband

More information is available in Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka: A history of Māori of Nelson and Marlborough, by Hilary and John Mitchell.

        

Logo

The enclosing circle illustrates the family-type operation of Wakatū. Inside the circle is a symbolic canoe prow (tauihu). The head at the top of the prow is a spiritual representation of our people. Below the head is a fern frond (koru) that represents a wave rising up.

The logo was designed by Don Sorenson, a Wakatū shareholder.              

Epa

Our Epa (carved post) pictured left, incorporates the logo of Wakatū at it's top. It stands in our office at Wakatū House in Montgomery Square, Nelson. 

The bottom of our Epa represents the history of the Nelson area. The figures represent our ancestors who belonged to the people of Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama, and Te Ātiawa.