Ahikā Consulting has become Whirika Consulting.
In 2011, we started our business with strong objectives to enhance the natural world, assist businesses to lower carbon emissions, and support the resilience of communities. The meaning of Ahikā resonated with our mahi at the time.
However, as time has passed and our learning about Te Ao Māori has developed, we are no longer comfortable carrying the name “Ahikā”. We recognise that only mana whenua can use the name “Ahikā” with authority, and therefore we need to change.
We value authenticity, so finding a name which truly represents our work and our values was important to us. In December last year, we started working alongside Megan Potiki (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Te Āti Awa) whose wisdom guided us through the process of choosing a more appropriate name.
From these hui, we decided to further explore the themes of weaving (woven harakeke, meshing together), co-design (working with community), and navigation (connected to waka, navigation, stars). We were supported in this exploration by Brendan Flack from Kāti Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki.
“In Tikanga Māori, changing names does happen and it’s part of the whakapapa… Tell the story including the mahi you are doing now.”
Megan Potiki
We also utilised skills from within the whānau to explore language related to harakeke and weaving. This led us to working with our whānaunga Jackie Pako (Ngati Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngati Whatua ki Orakei).
Jackie helped us to explore the foundations of weaving, particularly kete. The “whiri” is the plaited foundation of a kete and is used to combine different strands together. Once the whiri has been formed, the process of weaving or “whiria” begins. Whiria is the motion of weaving which creates the final product.
In the context of searching for a new company name, this process of weaving resonated. The whiri represents the role we play in projects and communities and the type of work we strive to deliver. Collaborative, strong, interwoven. We see ourselves as the foundational strand woven into the projects we contribute to – providing a strong base from which people can protect and restore their place.
Our logo takes inspiration from the whiri whilst including environmental references to represent the work we do. These shapes represent land and water, mountains and sea, and the coming together of various entities and groups towards a shared goal.