Āhua Gallery
Select Subcategory
Uncompromising in quality and uniquely Māori
Āhua brings you a wide-ranging collection of taonga Māori from our Master carvers and weavers, alongside Māori artists and practitioners throughout Aotearoa.
New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts dedicated Exhibition Gallery for all the taonga created within the Wananga. Beautiful works of arts from our National Schools and Graduated Artists are displayed for your veiwing pleasure. Visit Te Puia and participate in a Guided Experience - Te Ra and you will get to visit the schools where all the action happens before visiting our very special Ahua Gallery.
Whats even better, you can request a tailor made taonga! Visit our Commission a Project at NZMACI. From sentimental whānau pieces to significant commissioned projects, NZMACI can design, create and deliver your taonga.
If you would like to know some more about our Tumu (Head of Schools) and Pouako (Tutors) please visit our Artists page.
Kumete - 2855SL
Kumete or bowls were used for storing and serving food. They came in an assortment of sizes, depths and shapes, and were used in formal settings to impress high-standing manuhiri (visitors). Many kumete acquired personal names and were passed from one generation to another.
Material: Mataī
Measurements: 610mm x 200mm x 200mm
$8,500.00
Kete Whakairo - 5136ML
Kete whakairo are woven flax bags of a finer quality than the general utilitarian kete. They are normally made from prepared strips of flax and/or kiekie, some of which have been dyed. Kete whakairo may also feature geometric designs.
Material: Harakeke & Muka
Measurements: 255mm x 110mm x 50mm
$390.00
Kete Whakairo - 5141ML
Kete whakairo are woven flax bags of a finer quality than the general utilitarian kete. They are normally made from prepared strips of flax and/or kiekie, some of which have been dyed. Kete whakairo may also feature geometric designs.
Material: Harakeke & Muka
Measurements: 240mm x 120mm
$340.00
Rei Niho - 5267IA
The mark of a high Chief was one who wore the hei 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 common to fashion the tooth form from other materials.
Material: Onewa (NZ Greywacke)
Measurements: 75mm x 29mm x 5mm
$290.00
Kete Whakairo - 5131ML
Kete whakairo are woven flax bags of a finer quality than the general utilitarian kete. They are normally made from prepared strips of flax and/or kiekie, some of which have been dyed. Kete whakairo may also feature geometric designs.
Material: Harakeke
Measurements: 280mm x 170mm
$390.00
Koruru - 4754TJ
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. The long eyes of the wheku were often used to depict a squint or frown.
The wheku was commonly used in Māori carvings by some tribal areas and was also placed on the apex of the Māori meeting house to represent an eponymous ancestor.
Material: Tōtara
Measurements: 500mm x 250mm x 80mm
$2,200.00
Hei Niho - 3347HW
Shark teeth were highly sought after to wear as a symbol of prestige for personal adornment. They were reflective of the mana of the shark itself.
Material: Onewa (NZ Greywacke)
Measurements: 140mm x 45mm x 35mm
$390.00
Kete Whakairo - 5059AY
Kete whakairo are woven flax bags of a finer quality than the general utilitarian kete. They are normally made from prepared strips of flax and/or kiekie, some of which have been dyed. Kete whakairo may also feature geometric designs.
Material: Harakeke & Muka
Measurements: 320mm x 220mm
$590.00
Pākē - 4609MP
Pākē are (rain capes) - practical, everyday garments made by attaching hundreds of leaf strips, called Harakeke (NZ Flax) to a woven foundation. The harakeke channeled off the rain. This pākē has been fashioned with strands of muka or fibre within the Flax.
Artist description:
This particular pākē is more about the resource used than the patterns displayed.
I wanted to showcase the natural beauty of the ‘spotted’ and ‘discoloured’ harakeke and muka or in some sense ‘decolonise the mind’ when it comes to the expectations of raranga/whatu.
Material: Harakeke & Muka
Measurements: 730mm x 520mm
$3,300.00
Papahou - 2648DH
Papahou are predominantly made to house small, treasured belongings and were historically owned by people of high standing within their tribe. Papahou were highly prized and carefully treasured as they were passed between generations as heirlooms.
Material: Tōtara
Measurements: 405mm x 130mm x 100mm
$3,500.00
Kete Pingao - 2427ML
Pingao (Pikao) has a strong cultural, spiritual, and traditional significance to Māori. It has legends associated with it and is highly prized as a weaving material.
Material: Pingao & Muka
Measurements: 170mm x 120mm
$620.00