Bringing to life a shared vision and partnership

When approached by Kiwirail to refresh the longstanding Interislander brand, the brief was clear: this mahi must begin not with design, but with people, place, and purpose. At its heart was a desire for partnership — a collective vision grounded in whakapapa and relationship.
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He Hononga – Forging the Partnership

Together with Mana Whenua surrounding Te Moana o Raukawakawa (Cook Strait) — including Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui; we came together with Tau–Iwi Kiwirail, in hui, reflection and wānanga; to listen, learn, and align. These kōrero formed the foundation for the creative direction, but more importantly, they shaped a new kind of relationship.

This kaupapa wasn’t just about rebranding — it was about co-creating a future. The collective voices of this rōpū would ensure that the work would reflect the deep ancestral connection to whenua and moana, and honour the responsibilities that come with that.
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He Kōrero, He Tohu – The Story and the Symbol

From this collaboration, the name Te Au o Rehutai was gifted by Mana Whenua. It holds powerful meaning:
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‍Te Au – The many currents carved by waka on their journey.
Rehutai – The sea spray that rises as waka cut through the moana.

Together, Te Au o Rehutai evokes the imagery of a waka hourua — two hulls, two entities (mana whenua and Kiwirail) — held together by the ocean that connects us all.

As Matua Kura Moeahu (Ngā Ruahine, Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Tuturu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Toa) shared:

“Te Au o Rehutai... it's not just the narrative — it’s everything. The waka hourua, the two hulls, the two parties, and the moana is what connects us.”

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Creatively, the tohu was shaped by the Aramoana tāniko pattern, whose horizontal zigzags represent the rolling peaks and troughs of the ocean. It speaks to navigation, venture, and resilience — honouring the connection between people, land, and sea.

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He Mahi Tahi – A Living Relationship

Te Au o Rehutai is more than a brand identity. It is an enduring expression of mutual respect, kaupapa Māori values, and shared stewardship. It reflects what becomes possible when storytelling is grounded in tikanga, shaped through kōrero, and carried forward in true partnership.
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E rere atu te mihi nunui ki te whānau whānui o Te Au o Rehutai who welcomed our participation, conversation and collaboration throughout the kaupapa.