Manatū Hauora had spent 10 years developing with Māori, a long term strategy. It was essential that the design conveyed the hopes and aspirations of Māori embedded into the work.

The design system for He Korowai Oranga expresses the strength and beauty of a woven cloak. The korowai is a style of cloak with hukahuka, or tassels, that add an energising sense of movement and life. This represents the mana of each person, whānau and community embraced within the korowai, enrobed in a fulness of hauora, waiora and whānau ora

Inspired by this, we created a simple representation of the hukahuka tassels. This element, though simple was used flexibly and consistently throughout the collateral.

The name of the first report, Whatua refers to weaving and the weaving together of the many voices that have shaped the He Korowai Oranga strategy. Muka, extracted from the harakeke plant is woven into korowai. Every voice is woven in, bound tight and represented within the body of the cloak.

The name of the second report, Whakamaua refers to taking hold of the goals, securing pae ora, healthy futures for Māori. The korowai is to be worn, to experience health and vitality under its covering.

He Korowai Oranga is a uniquely Māori approach to health and wellbeing. For that reason, it needed a uniquely Māori expression. As Aperahama Taonui said in 1840:

“E ngā rangatira, whakarongo mai! Kaua e ūwhia Te Tiriti i te kahu o Ingarangi, engari kia mau anō ki tōu ake kahu, te kahukiwi o Aotearoa nei!”

This is an encouragement for Māori to not be cloaked with the cloak of England, but to put on the unique cloak of Māori identity. Nō reira, he korowai oranga mō ngā iwi katoa, kia tū hauora ai tātou katoa.