The University of Otago’s proposed new tohu (symbol) is displayed in gold, with a dark blue background.
The tohu is in the shape of an “O”, or circle, with a macron, or line, above. The ends of the macron are angled so that it resembles the shape of a waka. The “O” consists of two crescent-shaped halves.
Each half of the tohu is formed by three lines, which narrow and meet in a point at the top and the bottom of the tohu, where the two halves meet each other. Each half also has a stroke that curves inwards, into a point emerging from the inner edge of the crescent. On the left half, this point curves upwards and in towards the centre of the tohu; on the right half it curves downwards and in.