"Kimi Ora"

The Story of our Logo

The Young New Zealanders Foundation recently invited Karl Patterson, a young North Shore based designer, to create a logo that would express something of our aspirations for all the young people of New Zealand.

Karl, who is of Ngai Tahu descent, was born in Hamilton but now lives in Auckland.  As a designer he has completed many corporate designs, logos and material for commercial brochures, posters, advertisements and websites.  Karl is currently a director of Patterson Marketing Limited in Auckland, where he works with his father Keith in the family business.

When Karl was thinking about a suitable symbol for the Foundation, he reflected on, all that a Koru represents, in particular how a Koru relates to the growing and progressive nurture of individuals, families, communities and nations.  Karl recalled the Maori meaning of the Koru, a name given to a newborn, unfurling fern frond, which symbolises new life, growth, strength and harmony.

A Koru is often associated with nurturing – representing the strength and purity of a loving relationship or partnership.   Karl reflected upon a Maori proverb from his youth:

"Ka hinga atu he tete-kura – ka hara-mai he tete-kura"

"As one fern frond (person) dies – one is born to take its place"

Our Koru therefore symbolises the Young New Zealanders Foundation and all that we seek to achieve.  In a visual way it represents individuals, irrespective of gender, from the various cultures and ethnic groups that now elect to reside in our country. 

Our Koru represents not only new-birth, but the growth of each individual, through the childhood phase, through the in-between years, through adolescence and even embraces young adults in their early twenties. 

The design seeks to express something of the strength and unity of our country and its people.  It is as though our generation were an unfurling fern frond striving for perfection, reaching for the light, seeking nurture, nourishment, empowerment and the strength to stand strong with national identity.

We have named our Koru, "Kimi Ora" which simply seeks to express what it is to develop personal health, fulfillment and maturity, national identity and harmony as a nation.