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 Community Psychology
About the Logo
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| Designed by Taima Moeke-Pickering and Linda Waimarie Nikora |
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The poutama (steps) represents the challenges and aspirations that one makes when they journey into the world of learning and gain knowledege. When one step is achieved you face another step and so on. The poutama also reflects those aspects of Autonomy. Autonomy encompasses the discretionary aspects of an individual's possibilities, the products of one's freedom at any given point (Forrest Tyler, 1995).
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Uenuku (rainbow) is an important symbol of the Tainui people. It represents the Waikato context, the learning environment and ecology that Community Psychology is imbedded in. It encompasses the diversity and differences of cultures as represented in the many colours of the rainbow. Uenuku also reflects the system approach, which is integral to learning and understanding people and their communities.
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The koru (fern) represents people. It incorporates the lifespan of a person, their growth and development. The koru reflects those aspects of Continuity. Continuity encompasses the individual and collective embodiment of people in ongoing traditions and expectations of family, community, ethnic group, country, or broader grouping (Tyler, 1995).
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The maunga (mountain) provides the frame or safety net for which the above symbols are imbedded. The maunga is a child of papatuanuku, the earth mother. It symbolises history, strength, unity and protection. It also symbolises healing, cleansing, creativity and humility. There are many whakatauki with regard to the meaningfulness of maunga in Māori traditions. For example, as a person learns and developes, if they bow their head, let it be to a lofty mountain. And should you require, return to your mountain, so that you may be cleansed by the winds of your ancestors.
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