This design is based on Ngā Hau e Whā (The Four Winds) who in the Maori world are the children of Tawhirimātea (God of the winds). The winds are individually named, Te Hau Tonga (South), Te Hau Raki (North), Te Hau Rawhiti (East) and Te Hau ā Uru (West).

The winds are in the shape of rugby balls and flow around New Zealand (Aotearoa) bringing us all together from the four corners of the country and the world.

The design represents union — the coming together of people.
The design of New Zealand is fashioned as Te lka ā Māui (the great fish of Māui) but more commonly known today as the North Island. The South Island is Te Waka a Māui (the canoe of Māui); Stewart Island,
which lies at the very bottom of New Zealand, is known as Te Punga a Māui (the anchor of Māui).