In Part 1, we looked at why Māori design is about much more than attractive patterns. Visual forms can carry relationships to whakapapa, whenua, te moana, people and the natural world.

Now we can look more closely at some of the motifs and forms that people commonly encounter in contemporary Māori art and design.

But there is an important point to make before we do.

There Is No Single Māori Symbol Dictionary

Search online for the meaning of a Māori symbol and you're likely to find neat lists:

Koru = new beginnings.

Manaia = protection.

Mangōpare = strength.

These descriptions can provide a starting point, but they can also make Māori visual culture appear much more straightforward than it really is.

Māori art developed across different iwi and hapū, and artists continue to bring their own knowledge, whakapapa, experiences and intentions to their work.

A motif can therefore have meaning because of its form, its relationship to other elements, the story behind an artwork, or the particular context in which it is used.

The most useful question isn't always:

"What does this symbol mean?"

It can be:

"What story is this artist telling through this form?"

That distinction matters.

The Koru: A Form That Keeps Unfolding

Few Māori visual forms are more recognisable than the koru.

Based on the unfurling frond of the fern, the koru appears extensively in Māori art, particularly in kōwhaiwhai patterns and other forms of visual expression.

Te Ara describes the koru's circular form as conveying perpetual movement, while its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin. The form therefore allows ideas of change and continuity to exist together.

The Māori Dictionary gives koru meanings including a folded, looped or coiled form, a curled shoot, and the spiral motif used in kōwhaiwhai patterns and carving.

This helps explain why the koru has become so strongly associated with ideas such as new life, growth and renewal.

But there is something particularly interesting about the form.

It doesn't simply move outward.

It curves back towards itself.

There is movement, but also continuity.

A beginning, but also a connection to what came before.

That makes the koru an especially powerful visual form for thinking about whakapapa and the relationship between generations.

The Koru in Contemporary Art

The koru has also become part of a much broader conversation about contemporary art in Aotearoa.

Artists have experimented with the form, sometimes retaining its connection to customary Māori art while placing it within entirely new visual languages.

Te Papa's discussion of Gordon Walters' work provides an important example. Walters spent decades exploring the koru, combining a customary Māori motif with European abstraction. Te Papa also notes that the use of the koru by non-Māori artists has been the subject of significant debate.

Image from Te Papa

That history is a useful reminder that Māori motifs do not exist in a vacuum.

Who uses a design, why they use it, and the relationship between the artist and the culture all matter.

The Manaia: A Form That Resists Simple Definition

The manaia is another well-known form in Māori carving, but it is a particularly good example of why we should be cautious about assigning one fixed meaning to a Māori motif.

The form has been interpreted in different ways, including as a bird-headed human figure, a bird, a serpent or a human figure in profile.

Te Ara's discussion of Māori carving notes that the precise interpretation of the manaia has been the subject of considerable debate.

That uncertainty is not a problem to be solved.

It is part of the history of the form.

Māori visual language can contain layers of meaning that aren't always easily translated into a single English word.

The manaia also appears within the wider visual language of whakairo, or Māori carving, including the carvings associated with wharenui.

Te Ara describes the manaia appearing within the carved architecture of traditional Māori houses, demonstrating that these forms can operate as part of a much larger visual composition rather than as isolated symbols.

This is important when looking at contemporary Māori design.

A motif shouldn't necessarily be taken out of context and given a universal definition.

Sometimes its meaning comes from the relationships between the different elements surrounding it.

Mangō and Mangōpare: The Power of the Ocean

For Wai-Tai, ocean imagery has particular significance.

The mangō—shark—is one of the most powerful creatures encountered in the waters around Aotearoa.

And the mangōpare, referring to the hammerhead shark, has become an especially recognisable form within Māori-inspired contemporary design.

Wai-Tai has previously explored the mangō and mangōpare in depth in The Mangō and Mangōpare in Te Ao Māori, where we discuss the symbolism and stories associated with these powerful ocean creatures.

That article is particularly useful for anyone interested in the relationship between sharks, the moana, strength and guardianship.

It also connects naturally with Wai-Tai's Mangōpare collection, including our children's apparel and ocean lifestyle products.

The Moana as Inspiration

Not every Māori-inspired design needs to contain a recognisable traditional motif.

Sometimes the inspiration is the moana itself.

The movement of waves.

The shape of a coastline.

The creatures that live beneath the surface.

The changing colours of the sea.

The power of a storm.

The calm of a glassy morning.

For contemporary artists, the natural world remains a rich source of creative inspiration.

And for Wai-Tai, this relationship with the moana is particularly personal.

The brand was founded by five close friends who share a deep connection to surfing, fishing, diving and life around the East Coast of Aotearoa.

That means the ocean isn't simply an aesthetic theme added to a clothing range.

It's part of the lived experience behind the brand.

Whakapapa: The Connections Behind the Image

One of the most important concepts to keep in mind when considering Māori visual culture is whakapapa.

Whakapapa is often translated as genealogy, but that translation doesn't capture everything the concept encompasses.

It describes relationships and layers of connection.

People connect to parents and grandparents.

Whānau connect to communities.

People connect to whenua.

Iwi and hapū have relationships with particular places.

And the natural world itself can be understood through networks of relationship and ancestry.

This is one reason Māori art can communicate something much deeper than an isolated image.

A bird may be connected to a particular story.

A mountain may represent a place of belonging.

A marine creature may be associated with an ancestral relationship.

A pattern may connect generations.

The image is only one part of the story.

The relationships behind it are what give it depth.

Kaitiakitanga and the Natural World

Another concept that sits naturally alongside ocean-inspired Māori design is kaitiakitanga.

The word is often translated as guardianship or stewardship, although—as with many concepts from Te Ao Māori—those English translations don't capture every layer of meaning.

Kaitiakitanga can describe responsibilities and relationships involving people and the natural environment, including responsibilities towards future generations.

This is particularly relevant when we consider ocean imagery.

If the moana is part of your identity and your whakapapa, then caring for it isn't simply an environmental preference.

It can be understood as a responsibility arising from relationship.

This is a powerful idea for anyone who spends time surfing, fishing, diving or simply enjoying the coast.

The places that give us so much also need our care.

When Traditional Ideas Meet Modern Clothing

One of the most fascinating aspects of contemporary Māori fashion is the way traditional ideas can move into entirely new forms.

A concept that once appeared in carving or kōwhaiwhai may now be explored through:

• digital illustration
• graphic design
• screen printing
• streetwear
• surfwear
• photography
• contemporary painting
• fashion

That doesn't necessarily mean reproducing an old design.

It can mean taking inspiration from an idea, relationship or story and interpreting it through a contemporary artistic voice.

This is one of the reasons contemporary Māori fashion is so exciting.

It isn't simply looking backwards.

It is looking both backwards and forwards at the same time.

From Taonga to T-Shirt: Why Context Matters

It is worth pausing here because there is an important distinction between traditional Māori taonga and contemporary commercial clothing.

A traditional kākahu, carving or other taonga may carry histories, relationships and significance that cannot simply be transferred onto a modern garment.

Contemporary Māori clothing exists in a different context.

A T-shirt can still tell a story.

It can express identity.

It can celebrate an artist's creativity.

It can connect someone to a place or kaupapa.

But it shouldn't automatically be treated as equivalent to a traditional taonga.

Recognising that distinction allows contemporary Māori fashion to be appreciated for what it is: a living and evolving form of creative expression.

The Artists Are Part of the Story

When you see Māori-inspired artwork on clothing, it's worth asking:

Who created it?

What inspired it?

What story sits behind it?

What does the artist want the viewer to understand?

These questions move us beyond the idea of Māori design as a collection of decorative motifs.

They bring the artist back into the picture.

At Wai-Tai, artists Maia Gibbs and Henare Brooking contribute to a contemporary visual language shaped by their own experiences, perspectives and connections to Aotearoa.

That makes the artwork personal.

And that matters.

The story behind a design isn't something that can always be reduced to a few words underneath a product photograph.

Sometimes you need to understand the artist and the kaupapa behind the work.

Wearing a Story

Clothing has always been capable of communicating something about the person wearing it.

A sports jersey can tell people which team you support.

A band T-shirt can reveal something about your musical tastes.

A jacket can reflect the environment you spend time in.

Contemporary Māori clothing can provide another way of expressing connection to Aotearoa, Māori creativity, the moana and the stories that matter to the wearer.

That doesn't mean every person wearing a Māori-inspired design has the same relationship to the artwork.

People encounter these designs from different backgrounds and perspectives.

What matters is approaching the work with respect, learning about its origins and recognising the artist and story behind it.

Wai-Tai: Contemporary Stories You Can Wear

This is where the philosophy behind Wai-Tai comes together.

Our clothing is designed around a genuine connection to the ocean, the East Coast and contemporary Māori creativity.

Across the range you'll find designs inspired by marine life, guardianship, strength, identity and the landscapes of Aotearoa.

If you've come to this article because you're interested in Māori-inspired clothing, you can explore the wider Wai-Tai Aotearoa collection to see how these ideas are expressed through contemporary apparel.

Suggested internal links:

• Wai-Tai Māori T-Shirts
• Wai-Tai Heavyweight Hoodies
• Wai-Tai Boardshorts
• Wai-Tai Rash Tops
• Wai-Tai Mangōpare Collection
• Wai-Tai Kaitiaki Collection
• Wai-Tai Pikau Swimming Bags

For someone discovering Wai-Tai for the first time, these links create a natural progression:

Learn → understand → discover the artist → explore the design → discover the collection.

That is much more powerful than simply placing a "Shop Now" button halfway through an educational article.

The Story Is Never Just the Symbol

Perhaps the most important lesson is this:

A Māori design is not necessarily a code that can be decoded by looking at a picture.

The deeper meaning often sits in the relationships surrounding it.

The artist.

The place.

The people.

The whakapapa.

The kaupapa.

The natural world.

The history.

And the reason the artwork exists in the first place.

That's why the most respectful way to engage with Māori design isn't to memorise a list of symbols.

It's to remain curious.

Ask questions.

Learn the story.

Listen to the artist.

And recognise that Māori visual culture is not something frozen in the past.

It continues to evolve.

Continue Your Journey

If you've enjoyed exploring Māori visual language and contemporary design, continue with:

The Rise of Contemporary Māori Fashion
Discover how Māori creativity has evolved into contemporary clothing and fashion in Aotearoa.

Māori Clothing in Aotearoa: A Complete Guide to Contemporary Māori Fashion
Explore the history, identity and modern development of Māori clothing.

Surfing and Māori Culture: A Connection That Spans Centuries
Discover the enduring relationship between Māori communities, the moana and coastal life.

The Mangō and Mangōpare in Te Ao Māori
Explore Wai-Tai's detailed look at the shark and hammerhead shark in Māori culture.

What Is a Kaitiaki?
Learn more about kaitiaki, guardianship and the relationship between people and the natural world.

Coming in Part 3

In the final section, we'll bring everything together by exploring:

• How Māori artists are reshaping contemporary fashion
• Why Māori design continues to evolve
• The difference between inspiration, appropriation and respectful creative practice
• How to learn more about the stories behind Māori artwork
• Frequently asked questions about Māori symbols and design
• A carefully researched Sources & Further Reading section
• Additional Wai-Tai links and product pathways

The aim isn't simply to tell you what a symbol supposedly "means".

It's to help you understand why Māori visual storytelling is so rich, why context matters, and why the artists behind contemporary work deserve to be part of the conversation.