‘Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu’ 

 

The above is a Māori whakataukī, a proverb from the indigenous people of New Zealand, with the meaning ‘although it is small, it is a treasure.’ It is used here as a reminder that every person who seeks care from a trusted individual is vulnerable and a valued treasure. This website is dedicated to all those precious people carrying the wounds of broken trust, and to all those in positions of authority who have the humility to confront their potential to cause harm to those they have been entrusted to care for.  

  

The image of a man picking a tulip is symbolic of what happens when a person in a position of trust abuses their power and takes advantage of someone under their care. The tulip here is still growing, a bud that is yet to bloom. Initially, the man waters it and feeds it, but then he picks it. He thinks it looks stunning and rips it from its life source. Perhaps he wants to sell it for money or take it home to beautify his surroundings. His focus changes from nurturing the plant the moment he decides to use it to gratify his own needs.