Te Ika-whenua-o-te-rangi

In a recent trip to Whakatū the Aroora team were gifted a beautifully carved mere pounamu by the renowned carver Timoti Moran . Made from a piece of inanga from the West Coast of Te Waipounamu, with kiripaka flecks running through it, this taonga sparkles when held under the light or water. Given the name 'Te Ika-whenua-o-te-rangi', a reference to its resemblance to the Milky Way, it was blessed at the source of the sacred Riuwaka awa which feeds Te Tai-o-Aorere. Seen as a positive tohu, a lone kāhu soared above the heads of the kaikarakia during the blessing and naming of the taonga. Te Ika-whenua-o-te-rangi will remain a mauri for the kaupapa of Aroora, held by many, encouraging, inspiring, and fortifying leaders of the future.