meaning of ruamoko

Rūamoko is the alternative spelling of Rūaumoko – the Māori god of earthquakes and volcanoes and seasons, the youngest son of Ranginui and Papatūānuku (sky father and earth mother).

Our company name Rūamoko has been with the company since its inception in 2006, and links the nature of our work to the story of Rūaumoko, particularly with our interest in specialised seismic solutions and innovation. Rūaumoko is also the symbol associated with the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) of which we are members, and is therefore a name familiar to every structural and seismic engineer in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our name signals an intention from the outset to showcase Aotearoa New Zealand as a major contributor to the engineering and technology sector on a global platform thanks to our unique reira (location), our tāngata (people), our tikanga (culture) and our mātauranga (knowledge).

Given the significance, importance and meaning of the name Rūamoko, we were careful to involve and consult with the tangata whenua (people of the land) and relevant government authorities to ensure its appropriate use. We were delighted that the Māori Advisory Committee of New Zealand approved the use the name Ruamoko and logo as a registered trademark in the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office (IPONZ) which is administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. This is obviously something we are very proud of, and is important to our company, staff, and clients.

We are particularly passionate about initiatives that encourage the advancement of Māori culture in Aotearoa. We engage regularly with staff and advisors to ensure an understanding Te Ao Māori, Tikanga Māori, and Te Reo Māori throughout our company – it is of great importance to us.

Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata.