Whakapapa

Ihi is an intangible emotion that resides within a singular being.

Ihi is said to be the connection between te taha tīnana (physical being) and te taha wairua (spiritual realm), the tangible and the intangible, the potential and the realisation of potential.

Everyone has potential and every body has Ihi. Ihi does not normally exist in isolation, Ihi begets Wehi, that begets Wana.

• TE IHI - positive energy within that is ignited by what is seen, heard, felt
• TE WEHI - the emotional reaction that acknowledges Ihi
• TE WANA - the collection energy that unites people, connects people to environment an people to kaupapa.

TE IHI embodies the colours from within the current brand palette, Te Haeata o Te Rā reflecting the dawning of a new day blended with the concept of the relationship between light, water and land: 

• Te Ao - Light the reflection and refraction that embodies power, strength, the intangible spirit and essence. It enables movement and activates IHI 
• Te Wai - Water the waves of emotions and movement, as each tide ebbs another surges, with each new tide comes new beginnings that are pure, natural and a source for activation, a source that ignites IHI   
• Te Whenua - Land protects, provides and connects all-natural living things and people. Land sustains the living and it sustains IHI   

Mauri 

Sport NZ Mauri pounamu is the foundation and inspiration of TE IHI. 

• Kia pono ki te kaupapa - Be authentic to the purpose 
• Kia tika te mahi - Act with Integrity 
• Me aroha ki te tangata - Respect for others 

Kaupapa 

TE IHI, the design embraces and weaves together the various strands of the Sport New Zealand - IHI Aotearoa brand acknowledging: 

• Our past, Sport NZ's commitment to upholding the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Principles of Participation, Protection and Participation,  
• Our present, Sport NZ is the kaitiaki of the play, active recreation and sport sector.  We believe a strong bi-cultural foundation is critical to our national identity and wellbeing. 
• Our future, enabling opportunities for tangata whenua and all New Zealanders to realise their full potential in play, active recreation and sport, to participate and succeed as themselves. 

TE IHI acknowledges Sport New Zealand's kaitiakitanga as a crown agency that enables physical activity, support quality experiences and value cultural distinctive pathways in: 

• play is a vital part of tamariki physical and cognitive development  
• active recreation acknowledges everyone being active in their way 
• sport is physical exertion and skill in which an individual or a team competes 
  

Te Ihi 

There are three simple koru within TE IHI.  Each of these represent:  

1. Te Ihi, Te Ao, Kia Pono, Past, Play 
2. Te Wehi, Te Wai, Kia Tika, Present, Active Recreation  
3. Te Wana, Te Whenua, Me Aroha, Future, Sport  

The small curves at the joining of each koru - these specific features also make reference to the water that flows over the pounamu, in time revealing the layers of maturity, growth of knowledge and activation of potential.