I feel so fortunate to have this glorious tūī – perched as they so often are amongst the harakeke blooms – ready for the wall of my office and as the logo for my practice.

The very talented Vasu Singh (https://www.facebook.com/theonevasu) drew it for me, and I feel happy every time I look at it.

I love our native manu (birds) and there is something magical about tūī, with their sleek, iridescent feathers and their beautiful song.

When we returned to Aotearoa after several years away, the first manu I remember seeing were two tūī, swooping and dancing from one harakeke bush to the next as we walked to the beach at Ngakuta Bay. It felt like a welcome home.It was this memory that came to mind when I was thinking about how best to represent the whakataukī ‘Tūngia te ururua, kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu a te harakeke’.

When the harakeke is in flower, it attracts all sorts of life towards it, including the tūī with its voice that brings such joy to anyone lucky enough to hear it. When we grow and bloom, it makes it easier for us to connect, to find fulfilment, to experience joy. We all deserve birdsong in our lives!