Āhua Gallery

The maro is a frontal apron tied around the waist and is a traditional garment that is worn by both men and woman. This maro has been fashioned with strands of muka fibre within the flax.

Material: Harakeke & Muka

Measurements: 680mm x 480mm

Pāpaka (crab catching stick) originated in Hawaiki (the original homeland of Māori). Rēhua (the god of fish) handed a pāpaka to a rangatira (chief) before his journey to Aotearoa. This pāpaka is part of a limited edition of 12 bronze casts from an original wood carving by Kawana Waititi. The original will remain part of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute legacy collection.

The word 'piupiu' means 'to swing’ and is also the name for a skirt with free-hanging strands. Piupiu can be worn either around the waist or across one shoulder. They were made in many types of material and styles.

Material: Harakeke & Muka

Measurements: 1100mm x 420mm or 43 inches

Poi piu are simple poi made from the hardened and curled piupiu strands of flax. Poi piu was used as percussion instruments played to the beat of Māori chanting.

Material: Harakeke & Muka

Measurements: 650mm Long

Pōria Kākā are leg rings crafted from bone or stone used to keep pet kākā (parrots) from flying away. The giant kaka parrot was used by the Māori to assist them during hunting. The bird was used as a decoy to capture other kaka parrots.

As with many Māori items the kaka ring was both used as a tool as well as an adornment.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 35mm x 25mm x 4mm

This Pōtae is a contemporary hat woven with traditional Māori weaving methods.

Material: Harakeke

Circumference: 21.5 inches

This Pōtae is a contemporary hat woven with traditional Māori weaving methods.

Material: Harakeke & Metallic Foil

Circumference: 21 inches (53cm)

The pūkaea was the largest of the Māori trumpets, ranging in size from one metre (3.2ft) to over two meters (3.4ft) in length. They were made in two pieces and bound together with the roots of the kiekie (climber). Many pūkaea were carved and they often belonged to the chief of a tribe. They were typically used to call the tribe together.

Material: Matai

Measurements: 600mm x 70mm x 60mm

In Māori whakapapa (genealogy), all Māori flutes come to us from Hine Raukatauri, the daughter of Tānemahuta, the atua (spiritual entity) of the forest and birds. Hine Raukatauri is best known as the atua of flute music. She loved her flute so much that she chose to live inside it. She is now personified as the case moth that hangs from branches of trees in a long slender cocoon. This case moth cocoon is where the pūtōrino gets its shape from.

Material: Mataī (NZ Native)

Measurements: 400mm x 70mm x 50mm

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

In former times, marae had no wharekai (dining halls) to what we are familiar with today. During those times, specific ‘food mats’ were laid out in the middle of the wharenui (meeting house) and the food for the manuhiri (guest) was placed on them. This takapapa has been weaved to be used as a table runner.

Material: Harakeke

Measurements: 1110mm x 230mm