A Māori design for Veterans' Affairs

To acknowledge Māori service people and Māori veterans, Veterans’ Affairs has created a Māori inspired design.

It is based on the tewhatewha (teff-ah teff-ah) which is a long-handled fighting staff that was used in battle, but not only as a weapon but also to communicate, guide and signal directions to the war party. The designer, Wiremu Farmer, duplicated and then reflected the tewhatewha to show two faces talking with each other. It represents Veterans’ Affairs communicating with former service people.

The meaning of the Veterans' Affairs Māori Design

Wheku: A wheku is a carved Māori face that represents an ancestor or guardian. The word “wheku” means “carved face”. It also represents the role of the NZDF (The Face) providing for ex-service personnel in both War-Time and Peace-Time.

Two-way conversation.