Willa Black Prints NZ - New Release
Whanaungatanga - The Value of Connection
None of us stands alone. The meaning behind one of te ao Māori's most important values - and the bold new print it inspired.
Some Māori words carry meanings that are difficult to translate into English because they describe not just an idea, but an entire way of seeing the world. Whanaungatanga is one of those words. Often translated as connection, relationship or kinship, it reaches far beyond family ties - reminding us that none of us stands alone.
More than family - a way of belonging
The word whānau is commonly understood to mean family, but in te ao Māori, family has always been a much broader concept than immediate relatives. Whānau includes the people who raise us, support us, guide us and walk alongside us. It can include grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles and wider hapū, but it also embraces relationships formed through friendship, shared experiences and community.
From this understanding comes whanaungatanga - the practice and value of building, maintaining and honouring those relationships. It is about belonging. It is about knowing where you come from. It is about recognising that our wellbeing is closely connected to the wellbeing of those around us.
In Māori culture, whanaungatanga is woven through everyday life - shaping how people welcome visitors, care for one another, work together and celebrate successes.
Family can be inherited and chosen
One of the beautiful things about whanaungatanga is that it is not limited to genealogy. While whakapapa provides an important foundation for identity, whanaungatanga acknowledges that meaningful connections are also formed through shared experiences, mutual respect and acts of care.
Many people have friends who feel like siblings. Neighbours who become family. Teachers who change the course of a life. Communities that provide belonging when people are far from home. These relationships may not appear on a family tree, but they are no less significant. Whanaungatanga recognises that family can be both inherited and chosen - and that every relationship carries both value and responsibility.
This is why the Whanaungatanga print was intentionally designed to remain open to interpretation - because every home has its own connections and every family has its own story.
Simple forms, layered with meaning
Two strong anchoring forms provide the foundation of the composition, representing the people, places or values that ground us throughout life. Between them, joined uri symbolise the generations and relationships that connect us - each one individual, yet inseparable from the wider whole.
Encircling the composition is a continuous band, gently wrapping around the forms to represent unity, protection and the enduring nature of connection. It suggests that while relationships may grow, change and evolve, they remain part of something greater than ourselves.
Best for: anyone drawn to art that carries meaning beneath its surface - geometric and bold, yet quietly personal.
Open to every interpretation
Rather than illustrating one specific family, the artwork celebrates the many ways people find belonging. For one family, it may represent parents and children. For another, it may honour siblings, grandparents or generations connected through whakapapa. Someone else may see lifelong friendships, an adopted family, a sports team or a community that helped shape who they are.
Others may simply be drawn to the feeling of warmth, support and togetherness it evokes. None of these interpretations is more correct than another. That is the beauty of whanaungatanga - it invites us to recognise the relationships that matter most in our own lives.
Best for: a meaningful gift for housewarmings, new families, retirements or anyone marking a significant relationship milestone.
Bold, retro and grounded in meaning
Whanaungatanga is designed to bring both warmth and meaning into contemporary homes. Its clean geometric forms and retro-inspired palette sit comfortably within modern and retro-influenced interiors while remaining grounded in a value that has been central to te ao Māori for generations.
Whether displayed in a living room, entranceway, office or shared family space, it serves as a gentle reminder that our greatest strength often comes from the people we are connected to. For more on how contemporary Māori art fits within modern homes, explore the full collection.
Available in both white and black backgrounds - two versions of the same story, for two very different spaces.
A Māori art print expressing the value of whanaungatanga - connection, kinship and belonging. Retro-inspired palette of orange, red, yellow and cream creates a warmth in any space. Open to interpretation: parents and children, siblings, chosen family, generations or community.
"Every home has its own connections. Every family has its own journey. And every person deserves to see their own story reflected in the art they live with." Willa Black Prints
Ko Tēnei Au - a story of identity
If whanaungatanga speaks to connection with others, Ko Tēnei Au speaks to connection with yourself. "This is me" - a contemporary Māori typography print exploring identity, mixed heritage and belonging. A natural pairing with Whanaungatanga for anyone building a meaningful gallery wall.
What makes Māori art authentic?
Contemporary Māori art does not have to look traditional to carry genuine cultural meaning. This guide explores what authenticity really means in Māori art - the story behind the work, the artist's connection and why integrity matters more than style.
What is Māori Art? A complete guide
From whakairo and raranga to contemporary printmaking and digital illustration, this pillar guide covers the history, forms and meaning of Māori art - and why it continues to evolve and resonate in modern homes across Aotearoa and the world.
Explore the full Māori art collection
Explore the full Willa Black Prints contemporary Māori art collection - from bold retro pieces like Whanaungatanga to identity-led typography prints, limited editions and culturally grounded artworks for every kind of home. Made to order with custom sizing, ships across NZ and Australia.
Willa Black Prints NZ
Art for the people who ground you.
Explore the Whanaungatanga print and the full Willa Black Prints Māori art collection - made to order with custom sizing and framing. Ships across NZ and Australia.
