The most important element of Pure Pākati (“pākati” means incised or notched) is the three simple niho (tooth notches) in a recurring pattern of three known as “taki toru”. In Māori culture there are many whakapapa kōrero (stories of origin) explaining taki toru. In this particular instance Rangi drew inspiration from a Polynesian migration story of Toi and his grandson Whātonga.

During a waka (canoe) regatta in Hawaiki, Whātonga and a companion, Turahui, were blown off course. In a desperate effort to find them, Toi sent a message by binding a rākau (stick or piece of wood) with three lashings and setting it adrift. He hoped it would find Whātonga and Turahui by following the currents and winds that had blown them offshore (to New Zealand). The three lashings pose three questions: Where are you? How are you? When will you be back?

The taki toru motif recurs throughout whare whakairo (carved meeting houses) in carved, woven, lashed and painted form. In Pure Pākati this simple gesture speaks to Tourism New Zealand’s kaupapa of “embracing visitors as whānau”, by communicating an enduring sentiment of love and care for travellers.