Meet Tuia Waitākere

After more than 30 years of supporting West Aucklanders to live active and healthy lives, Sport Waitākere today proudly unveils its new name – Tuia Waitākere.

The name reflects both the organisation’s strong legacy and its vision for a future where everyone in Waitākere is living and doing well for themselves. Over the last three decades, Sport Waitākere has played a vital role in strengthening participation in sport and physical activity. Today, the organisation’s kaupapa has grown well beyond sport alone, explains Chief Executive, David George.

“Tuia Waitākere reflects what has been taking shape through our mahi for years” George says.

“Our roots are in sport, and our work now spans community sport, arts, movement and culture. Our focus is simple: supporting people across Waitākere to live and do well, in ways that make sense for their own communities.”

Tuia Waitākere, draws from the kupu tuia – meaning to weave, bind, sow and bring together. It reflects a kaupapa of unity and collaboration, and a commitment to weaving together communities, leaders and whānau to create positive change. The tohu draws inspiration from te taiao – angular lines representing the ridges of the Waitākere Ranges, flowing curves representing the awa, weaving together to embody tuia.

The name was developed through a process that involved ongoing engagement with mana whenua Te Kawerau ā Maki, who ultimately endorsed Tuia Waitākere. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to connection, place and collective responsibility across Waitākere. Board Chair Michael Holmes (Ngāti Ranginui) continues.

“This change has been shaped over many years. Our journey has been steady and deliberate, guided by the people and places we work alongside. Tuia Waitākere is our purpose made clearer, and our commitment to West Auckland expressed more honestly.”

He says the new look and feel clearly signals how the organisation now works.

“We work alongside communities, backing local leadership and ideas that already exist,” he says. “With our Impact Strategy in place and now a name that reflects how we operate, we are well positioned to keep supporting community-led change across Waitākere.”

Tuia Waitākere’s ultimate vision has been refreshed to ‘where everyone in Waitākere lives healthy, active and well for themselves’, with a clear purpose that places the wellbeing of West Aucklanders at the heart of everything it does.

The organisation’s new positioning has also been updated to ‘a community movement – led by the people, for the people of West Auckland’ reflecting its commitment to working alongside local leaders and whānau where they naturally gather – in schools, sports clubs, workplaces and churches – sharing tools, resources and support to drive meaningful change, together.

All changes associated with the new brand take effect immediately, including the new website which can be found at www.tuiawaitakere.org.nz.

Tuia Waitākere thanks Mahi Tahi, whose deep collaboration and creative expertise brought the new brand and identity to life.

Tuia i runga, tuia i raro    Bind that is above, to what is below
Tuia i roto, tuia i waho      Bind all that is seen and all that is unseen
Tuia te muka herenga tāngata   Bind and stitch together humankind
Ka rongo te pō    That the spiritual realm hears us
Ka rongo te ao    so too will the physical realm hear us
Haumi e, hui e    We join together as one, collected
Taiki e! And united!