Kainga | Home > Tuakiri Ahurea | Cultural Narrative
Rangitāne have long woven their presence into the fabric of this whenua (land) and rohe (region), guided by tikanga and kawa. They explored, named, and drew sustenance from the rich and sacred sites that mark this whenua. We honour Rangitāne, their whakapapa, and their enduring guardianship, which form an integral part of our cultural identity and connection to this whenua and rohe.
The story of Rangitāne begins with the Kurahaupō waka. Rangitāne trace their whakapapa (genealogy) and origins back to the Kurahaupō waka, linking the identity, history, and connection to the land with this ancestral voyage to the iwi.
The rohe of Rangitāne o Wairau stretches from the Wairau River to Te Anamāhanga, including d’Urville Island, Nelson, and Waimeha, reaching south to Nelson Lakes and the Clarence River, then north through Kekerengu, Cape Campbell, Lake Grassmere, White Bluffs, and the Wairau Lagoons.
Rangitāne are strong, present, and far-reaching as described by the whakatauki, "Ngā tini whetū ki te Rangi, ko Rangitāne ki te whenua," meaning, “Like the multitudes of stars in the sky … so great is Rangitāne on the earth.”
Niho Taniwhā – “The teeth of the taniwhā” is represented by the gold triangular pattern over two mountains, symbolising our connection to te aramoana—the pathways linking rivers to the rohe we serve.
Inspired by taniko weaving, Niho Taniwhā reflects the nature of RTLB mahi: threads (aho) intertwine, supporting the structure and creating resilience, just as collaborative efforts strengthen our work.
The two maunga honour local tipuna across Te Tauihu, while gold and blue reference the region’s sunlit beaches, rivers, and sea.
Designed by Sharman Robin (Pouwhirinaki, 2021)
To be guided by the current of our awa allows the natural flow and direction of RTLB mahi to influence and determine the pathway forward. It highlights the significance of our awa, originating from Te Puna o Waikoropupu in Mohua (Golden Bay), renowned for its crystal-clear freshwater springs that feed into our rivers weaving together a rohe that makes up Te Tai o Aorere, Nelson/ Tasman Bay Region.
Just as the awa connects and nourishes our rohe, we are reminded of the interconnectedness and resilience that comes from following and respecting the natural currents of the lives of the mokopuna we work with. Ka tū te rere - Nelson Bays RTLB guided by the current of our awa.
A collaboration of input by RTLB from C30, nā Sharman Robin te kaitito, ko Maihi Barber te kaipuoro.