The College’s Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) program in Aotearoa New Zealand is excited to share its new program name and logo in Te Reo Māori, Te Tupu Whakaritorito. 

The whakataukī (proverb) of the new program name is, ‘Tūngia te ururua, kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te harakeke’ (clear the undergrowth, so that the new shoots of the flax will grow).   

Gifted by the College’s Māori Mental Health Committee Te Kaunihera, the new name, Te Tupu Whakaritorito signifies the PIF program’s emphasis on supporting and growing the Māori and Pasifika workforce in psychiatry. There are currently over 735 members of the PIF program in Aotearoa New Zealand, and 122 identify as Māori and/or Pasifika. 

Launched at the 2025 New Zealand Conference, the logo depicts harakeke plant, with new shoots to symbolise a younger generation of psychiatrists, who are protected and nurtured by the strong leaves outside, representing current mentors, psychiatrists and Kaumātua.

A sincere thanks to members of the Te Kaunihera committee and the College Kaumātua, for their continued support and guidance on the name and logo development as well as officially launching the logo at our National Conference in Dunedin in September this year. The program would like to acknowledge and thank Dr Mark Lawrence, members of Tū Te Akaaka Roa, and the PIF Advisory Group for their assistance. 

Te Tupu Whakaritorito (PIF) looks forward to engaging and supporting medical students and doctors interested in psychiatry careers in 2026.