NZMACI

The paddle or hoe was the means of propulsion for the Māori waka (canoe). While the hoe was primarily a paddle, it also doubled as a weapon when the need arose. Carved paddles were the property of the chief and were highly valued. The hoe came in different styles and the handles and blades differed […]

Hei tiki are the best known of all Māori adornments. Tiki are symbols of fertility that depict a new-born child. They are often family heirlooms bearing personal names and embodying their wearers lineage. As with most Māori personal adornments, hei tiki are often passed down generationally.

Hei tiki are the best known of all Māori adornments. Tiki are symbols of fertility that depict a new-born child. They are often family heirlooms bearing personal names and embodying their wearers lineage. As with most Māori personal adornments, hei tiki are often passed down generationally.

A whāriki is a woven mat traditionally used to dress the floor in the sleeping house.

This symbolic item was used by the tribal rangatira to delineate territorial possession which was always respected by the tribe. The pouwhenua was also used by orators on the marae during formal occasions where it was thrust into the earth at the completion of their kōrero (speech).

The tewhatewha is one of three, two-handed weapons. The axe-like top added excellent balance to the weapon and was used by the chief of the tribe as a form of flag to signal the warriors into battle. In hand to hand combat, this weapon was used much like the taiaha and its cousin, the pouwhenua.

The paddle or hoe was the means of propulsion for the Māori waka (canoe). While the hoe was primarily a paddle, it also doubled as a weapon when the need arose. Carved paddles were the property of the chief and were highly valued. The hoe came in different styles and the handles and blades differed […]

The mark of a high Chief was one who wore the rei niho (whale tooth pendant), as the teeth of the sperm whale were highly prized because of their rarity. Usually these pendants had simply etched out eyes to form a head at one end. With actual whale teeth being such a rarity, it became […]

Hei tiki are the best known of all Māori adornments. Tiki are symbols of fertility that depict a new-born child. They are often family heirlooms bearing personal names and embodying their wearers lineage. As with most Māori personal adornments, hei tiki are often passed down generationally.

In Māori carving there are three predominant designs for heads: the ‘wheku’ with its long eyes; the ‘koruru’ with its round eyes; and, the ‘ruru’, which also has round eyes but with a point at the top. The different designs were used by carvers to illustrate the character of the subject they were carving.

Rākau pāpaka (crab catching stick) originated in Hawaiki (the original homeland of Māori). Rēhua (the god of fish) handed a rākau pāpaka to a rangatira (chief) before his journey to Aotearoa. This rākau pāpaka is part of a limited edition of 12 bronze casts from an original wood carving by Kawana Waititi. The original will […]