Hine-rau-ma-ukuuku

“Ma nehe Māui to tira haere i a Hineraumaukuuku

Kaikarangaranga i te po, i te ao

Te ha to haemata te ia waiatarau kia korerotia nga taihukahuka o Tangaroa”

Hine-rau-ma-ukuuku was Māui’s wife. She is represented in a carved pou on Hikurangi maunga. She is the only carving facing outward while all of the the pou face inward towards Māui. Hineraumaukuuku has the responsibility of kaikaranga (the voice of welcome) to Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun) every morning and to all manuhiri (visitors). 

She welcomes the new dawn each morning. She represents the now and the future, opportunities and possibilities. The ideology to imagine, create and innovate. 

She welcomes manuhiri through karanga, from the past, present and future. Manuhiri may arrive as strangers, but they leave as friends and kindred spirits, enriched by their experience of connecting with like-minded people.