The New Zealand Education Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across primary and secondary education, recognising the exceptional work of schools and kura.

A distinctive and memorable brand identity was required to strengthen the awards’ visibility. This visual branding enhances recognition, reflects the level of excellence, and positions the awards as a respected standard for educational achievement throughout Aotearoa.

The following whakataukī served as the foundation for the award identity: 

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu. 

"Adorn the bird with feathers so it can fly." 

This conveys the themes of sharing, support, and empowerment, reflecting the daily efforts of teachers, leaders, schools, and kura. 

A kākā feather was selected as a visual representation of this whakataukī and was used as a recognisable symbol throughout the brand identity. The Ministry of Education’s color palette was also expanded to include a vibrant red, inspired by the red feathers found beneath a kākā’s wing.