Energy Hardship - Project Page

Project

Te Kore, Te Pō, Te Ao Mārama
Energy Hardship: The challenges and a way forward

Client

Energy Hardship Expert Panel for the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE)

Discipline

Graphic Design
The Energy Hardship Expert Panel undertook an important project to contribute to the national conversation on energy hardship in Aotearoa. 

The panel was commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to provide comprehensive recommendations to the government, aimed at addressing and alleviating energy hardship across the nation. This mahi was provided in a report titled "Te Kore, Te Pō, Te Ao Mārama” which was a culmination of 14 months of dedicated work from the panel, involving extensive engagement with whānau, communities, energy, health, and social services experts, as well as NGOs.

Tuatahi was selected by the panel to design the report ensuring the final product was not only informative but visually compelling and culturally authentic. 
Our cover design integrates authentic Māori design with symbolism to convey an unwavering commitment towards fighting against energy hardship.

Central to our design is the niho taniwha pattern, which is used predominantly on tukutuku panels and tāniko weaving. It loosely translates to ‘the teeth of the taniwha’. As such, it symbolises strength, resilience and kaitiakitanga – the attributes of a taniwha, mirroring the collective effort and perseverance in addressing energy hardship. Niho taniwha is also the principal motif that represents the realm of our kōrero tuku iho (Māori oral traditions), which underpins the whole design.

We have also incorporated three taimana or diamonds, representing the three stages of creation within our kōrero tuku iho (Māori oral traditions), Te Kore, Te Pō, and Te Ao Mārama. These stages directly connect with the niho taniwha motif, again emphasising the our kōrero
tuku iho (Māori oral traditions), that underpin the whole design.

The top diamond, symbolising Te Kore, represents the realm of potential and the undefined. This reflects our constant pursuit of innovative solutions and possibilities to tackle energy hardship. The middle diamond embodies Te Pō, the realm of becoming, signifying the ongoing work, evolution, and progress in our fight against energy hardship issues. The lower diamond signifies Te Ao Mārama, the realm of light and being, demonstrating the ultimate goal to provide sufficient energy to every household in Aotearoa, eliminating energy hardship.

Beyond their cultural significance, these diamonds are also designed in the form of whetū (stars), directly linking to the concept of energy – a crucial energy that illuminates our night sky. Stars/whetū were also used by our tipuna to navigate, in this instance we likened this to navigating energy hardship.

The chosen palette of vibrant orange and gold pays homage to Tama-nui-te-rā, the sun. This
choice of colours doesn’t only symbolise the radiant energy we aim to provide, but also ties back to the sun as a natural and sustainable source of power and light, underscoring the importance of sustainable energy solutions.

In totality, these design elements take us on the journey from Te Kore to Te Ao Mārama, presenting a compelling narrative of the journey to overcome energy hardship.
For the overall aesthetic of the report we wanted to provide design and imagery that was vibrant, energetic and resonated with the essence of Te Kore, Te Pō, Te Ao Mārama.  The objective was to not focus on energy hardship but to provide design that instead showed a vibrant and optimistic future. We also supplied photography that further complimented this idea and showed whānau being energy affluent. 

This project stands as a testament to Tuatahi Creatives' ability to deliver high-quality, culturally significant work within demanding schedules, further establishing our agency as a leader in Māori creative solutions. It also shows our willingness to use our mahi to support projects that positively impact our communities.

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