Relationship to Colours
The significance of colour is deeply woven into our identity, spirituality, and connection to the natural world. Each colour carries its own meanings, emotions, and cultural practices, reflecting our unique worldview as tangata whenua.
Our Connection to Colour
Spiritual Connections: In our traditions, colours symbolize various aspects of our spirituality. For instance, kikorangi (blue) represents tranquility, peace, and the vastness of the sky and sea, while ma (white) signifies purity, peace, and the spiritual realm.
Identity and Whakapapa: Colours play a crucial role in our symbols, clothing, and art, expressing our identity and whakapapa. Pango (black) holds significant meaning for many iwi (nations), symbolizing strength, depth, and the earth, and is prominently featured in our traditional clothing and carving.
Connection to Nature: The colours found in our natural environment are vital to who we are. Each hue represents different elements of the land. For example, kākāriki (green) symbolizes growth, health, and our deep connection to the whenua (land), reflecting our belief in the interconnectedness of all living things.
Kikorangi - Kahurangi - Blue
In te ao Māori, the color blue—known as kikorangi or kahurangi—carries profound spiritual and cultural significance. It is more than just a color; it symbolizes the life-giving force of water, the vastness of the sky, and connections to Atua (greater than) like Tangaroa, the atua of the sea. Tangaroa is revered as an tīpuna (ancestor) and a katiaki (guardian), and the waters under his protection sustain and nourish both body and spirit. Within Māori life, the atua are not mythological but are present, living entities that connect people to their tīpuna (ancestors) and to the land, sky, and sea that provide for them.
Blue in te ao Māori reflects balance, peace, and the mauri (life force) within natural elements. Kahurangi, a deeper shade of blue, carries particular associations with rangimārie (peace), wisdom, and healing. In traditional arts such as raranga (weaving) and whakairo (carving), blue often appears to represent the protective nature of atua and the spiritual noa (state of being free from tapu). These blue tones create an atmosphere of calm and connection to the spiritual guardians, bridging the physical world with the sacred and promoting healing within the community (Mead, 2003).
Blue also symbolizes whakapapa, linking Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother) and embodying the interconnectedness of all things. Through this color, we maintain the connection between the atua and our tīpuna. Kikorangi is therefore not simply a visual choice but an expression of the whakapapa that binds people to their environment and to each other across generations. At pōwhiri (welcoming ceremonies) and tangihanga (funerals), blue appears to honor those who have returned to our tipuna, creating an enduring connection between the living and the spirit world.
In this way, kikorangi and kahurangi are woven into the fabric of our culture, representing not only natural beauty but the sacred relationships that define our identity as Tangata Whenua. These shades of blue are imbued with the mana (authority) of atua, guiding and protecting our people in all aspects of life.
References
Mead, H. M. (2003). *Tikanga Māori: Living by Māori Values*. Wellington: Huia Publishers.