We acknowledge the importance and criticality of the Public Safety Network to support those that protect all of us in Aotearoa every day. We recognise the status of this network supporting our people, as a taonga, with wairua, and at times tapu. It is important that we understand the nature of this, the people we are supporting, their needs and aspirations and how we support them. It is a great honour and responsibility to support this kaupapa which is one of the key foundations of everyday life here in Aotearoa; Safety, support and care for our people.

We acknowledge the skills, experiences, and capabilities our organisations carry on each of our waka. It is right that we come together and offer the best of our combined capabilities to this kaupapa ensuring the best outcome for our nation. By weaving our skills and capabilities as one, binding our waka together as one, we create a Waka Hourua, double hulled waka.

Hourua is when you join 2 separate waka together with a platform in between to carry more goods. It was the precursor to the waka hourua or double hulled canoes we see today.

It represents strength, endurance, pace, manoeuvrability, creativity and innovation. We are able to offer the best of our combined capabilities and the capabilities of our partners on this very purposeful journey.

Key themes:
• Binding or lashing our waka together to create a double hulled waka.
• Combining our strengths and expertise to honour this kaupapa and deliver the best possible outcome. The strength on many and concerted effort.
• Creating a space for all our partners to collaborate and contribute on this journey with us

The pronunciation of the name is Hourua (hoe-roo-a). It is simple to say and the concept is simple.

The brand logo that we settled on was the lashing component, the act of creating that strength in joining our waka together signifying the skills and attributes we all bring to this important kaupapa.

Nau te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi