After two years of community-wide input and design-work, Katikati College has launched a new school logo and four new houses.

The designs were launched at a special assembly on December 4.

Principal Lousie Buckley said the college had undergone an exciting journey to refresh its visual identity – to move from its long-standing school crest to a new tohu (logo) “that better reflects who we are today, and who we aspire to be as a learning community”.

“Our previous crest was designed in 1955, nearly 70 years ago. Its symbols reflected the origins of Katikati’s early European settlers – the red hand of Ulster, the ships Lady Jocelyn and Carisbrooke Castle, the pine trees representing kauri milling, and swords symbolising the pursuit of knowledge,” Buckley said at the assembly.

Who we are now

“While these images spoke to the history of the time, the question arose – does this still represent who we are now as a school and as a community?”

The college began a process of consultation with students, staff, whānau and community members in 2024.

“The majority of those surveyed felt that the old crest no longer reflected the college’s identity, with strong support for developing something that acknowledged our place, our people, and our values in Aotearoa today.

“There was also clear encouragement to ensure te ao Māori and local environmental connections were part of any new design,” Buckley said.

“From that kōrero came our new tohu, created in 2025 to represent our vision: Growing connected learners who make positive contributions to our thriving community.”

Focus group

The college contracted local design company, Paulownia, to work with a focus group to develop the new tohu.

The group was made up of 2025’s head students Hannah Gourlay, Jack Harray, Rajveer Sania Kaur, and Charlotte Tanner; college staff members Shani Benn and Kate Sutherland; board of trustees member Victoria Deyer; and Buckley. In addition, Pou Arahi – representatives from the three local marae – were also kept informed of the process.

Buckley said one key aspect of the design brief was the new tohu had to reflect the Kaimai Ranges.

“No matter where you are in Katikati, these maunga shape the skyline – a familiar backdrop to our daily lives and a reminder of our connection to this place.”

Values

The design also had to capture the college’s values – Whanaungatanga (relationships), Manaakitanga (kindness and respect), and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) “and our connection to the natural environment that surrounds us”.

The completed logo’s four interwoven layers symbolise these values “and the unity of our four houses,” said Buckley.

“The woven bands reflect the interconnection between people, knowledge, community, and environment.

“The meeting points represent the maunga and the college as a meeting place – a space where learning and relationships intersect. Each layer also represents an element of our local environment, stretching from the Kaimai Ranges to the moana – the sun, mountains, land, and water – showing the flow of connection that defines Katikati.

“The spaces between the layers represent Va – the relational space between people – a concept that recognises the strength of our community lies not just in individuals but in the relationships that connect us,” Buckley said.

“So in brief, the tohu represents our college as a whare, a house of learning – it represents the connections between people, and the connection to our local environment.”

A set of accompanying design motifs were designed by a group of 35 students across all year levels.

“These designs represent the diversity of our school. They reflect our Māori, Pasifika, Indian and Celtic heritage, and the many cultures and identities that shape who we are,” Buckley said.

House system renewed

The college’s house system had also been renewed to better reflect the school’s connection to the local landscape and environment. The previous house names, which honoured early European settlers, had served the college since 1939.

The new houses are Mountain/Maunga with the colour red; River/Awa with green; Beach/Tātahi with yellow; and Sea/Moana with blue.

“These new names and colours celebrate the interconnected journey of our place – from the peaks of the Kaimai Ranges to the ocean that shapes our coastline – and reflect the college’s ongoing commitment to Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, and Kaitiakitanga in everything we do.”

The new house names don’t erase what’s gone before, Buckley said: “The crest will still be seen in many places around our kura [school].

“The house names will still be on trophies and cups. We honour those who have gone before, and this change in no way diminishes the mana of that.”

She said the new tohu and house system represent a new chapter in Katikati College’s story – “one that honours our past while embracing a future grounded in connection, inclusivity, and place”.

“Together, we step into this new chapter with pride, with purpose, and with a shared sense of responsibility for the generations to come.”

Inclusive

Valarie Uilou of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tamawhariua, Katikati district’s health and social services provider, said the school had done a fabulous job of creating something that’s inclusive, diverse.

“It includes everything within our community – including our taiao [environment], I love it,” she said.

Otawhiwhi Marae chair Reon Tuanau said the logo, houses and their new designs look mīharo (amazing).

“It really captures who we are today. People are a lot in tune with the environment these days and protecting it – so I think the logo depicts this and showcases where we’re at now.”

He said the project’s journey had been all-inclusive – “everyone’s had a part to play”.

Buckley thanked design team Paulownia for their work on the project, Coast Signs, No 1 Signs and all those who were part of the project during the last two years.

From next year, all students will be reshuffled randomly into new houses, focus group member Kate Sutherland said.

“As for uniforms – the college will sell its existing stock with the crest until it’s sold out and the new logo will be eased in. So parents do not need to worry – they will not have to purchase uniforms next year unless they need to.”

*Next week Katikati News asks students what they think of the new logo and houses.