Āhua Gallery

Māhē are sinker stones used to weigh down fishing nets.

Material: Otaua (Greywacke)

Measurements: 50mm x 37mm x 35mm

The kākahu takes inspiration from traditional Māori cloaks. A kākahu is mantle of prestige and honour. This kākahu is made from mirowhiti miro (mop yarn) also incorporating materials that represent different types of kākahu including but not limited to kahu huruhuru (feathers) and tāniko.

Material: Cotton, Mop Yarn, Wool, Feathers

Measurements: 1016mm x 762mm

The kākahu takes inspiration from traditional Māori cloaks. A kākahu is mantle of prestige and honour. This kākahu is made from mirowhiti miro (mop yarn) also incorporating materials that represent different types of kākahu including but not limited to kahu huruhuru (feathers) and tāniko.

Material: Cotton, Mop Yarn, Wool, Feathers

Measurements: 875mm x 775mm

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: Koiwi (Beef Bone)

Measurements: 67mm x 40mm

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: Koiwi (Beef Bone)

Measurements: 60mm x 33mm x 4mm

Tāniko weaving produces a relatively stiff and unyielding fabric, it was traditionally used as a decorative border on fine cloaks of the kaitaka and paepaeroa types. Often several different strips of tāniko appeared on up to three sides of a cloak.

Material: Acrylic Cotton, Leather Lining, Macrame Silks

Measurements: 1150mm x 40mm

A waka tūpāpaku is a box used for containing the bones of a person of high rank after they had been exposed on the atamira platform, the flesh removed and the bones anointed with oil and red ochre, placed in a waka tūpāpaku and taken to a tribal buriel cave.

Material: Tōtara

Measurements: 580mm x 140mm x 110mm