Kia tū kaha, Kia mau ki te whakapono.
Stand strong, pursue the knowledge of understanding.
or
Give me a place that I can stand, and I will move the earth.
Pou
Pou is an integral part of the wharenui that holds it together. It welcomes manuhiri into the wharenui and protects the sacred essence of the whare as it weaves the mana wairua, mana tangata and mana whenua dimensions. The figure proportions identify Māori beliefs of different types of energy resting in the human body. The head represents the centre of personal power and special attention is usually paid to the decorative details of the face (tāmoko). The stomach represents the life force of spirits and humans, which is seated in the abdomen. The limbs demonstrate the figure of strength.
These could be illustrated as a triangle that recognises a network of interacting relationships. Though the mana of each point is separate they share two common essences, energy and vitality.
This e-learning site is seen as a place for collective learning:
Pou – place of establishment, base of operations
Manawa – pulse – heart - human dimension
Akoranga – new learning, new information