He whakamāramatanga a te tohu nei – Explanation of our logo for LIANZA 2023 Conference

Gifted by Maatakiwi Wakefield (Kāi Tahu whānui, Ngāti Mutunga, Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto)
this image is of a piece of work created by her in 2017 for her Maunga Kura Toi - Bachelor of Māori Art (Weaving).

The whenu represent the different libraries within our sector that are woven together through LIANZA, represented by the aho. The patterns created through this style of weaving, are reflective of the variety of resources and services offered by the sector. The emiemi decorative strip represents the durability and resilience of the sector. Thus, as a collective piece, it symbolises the enduring value of libraries.

The colours are reflective of the whenua (earth) connecting us back to Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), upon which our sector stands.
 

• The white threads are whenu (warp or lengthwise threads) and aho (weft or cross threads used to bind/weave the whenu together). They are made from muka – flax fibre which has been specially prepared for the purpose of this type of weaving.
• The brown fibres are mountain emiemi or more commonly known as mountain neinei. It is a native plant that grows along Te Tiritiri o te Moana in Te Waipounamu. Emiemi is harvested after the snow melts, as this causes the older leaves to shed, and it is these leaves that are used in weaving. Because of its durability and resilience, Kāi Tahu traditionally used emiemi to construct pākē which they used as rain capes when crossing the Alps.