Āhua Gallery

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: 103mm x 23mm

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: 455mm x 135mm

Autui were customarily used as a pin for fastening cloaks and may be made from bone, stone, wood or shell. They may also have been worn through the ear as an earring or around the neck as a pendant. Autui are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings and as with most Māori personal adornments, are often passed down generationally.

Material: Paua Shell

Measurements: 116mm x 13mm

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: 210mm x 100mm

Patu (meaning to strike or hit) were typically fashioned from native hardwood, whalebone or stone, including our highly valued pounamu (greenstone). Patu were often sharp at their forward edge and were used with thrusting, jabbing, and swinging blows. Māori weapons are notable for their fine sculptural form and were designed for close hand-to-hand combat. No other stone-age war implements surpassed them in deadly effectiveness.

Material: Maire (NZ Hardwood)

Measurements: 385mm x 135mm x 30mm

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: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 55mm x 22mm x 5mm

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 71mm x 20mm x 3mm

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. This tooth pendant references the tiger shark. This shark is an aggressive predator and is found mostly in tropical and warm waters. Tiger sharks are named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles.

Material: Onewa (Waiotemarama)

Measurements: 105mm x 75mm x 22mm

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. This tooth pendant references the tiger shark. This shark is an aggressive predator and is found mostly in tropical and warm waters. Tiger sharks are named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles.

Material: Onewa (NZ Greywacke)

Measurements: 96mm x 82mm x 19mm

The toki pendent is based on the form of the carving chisel used in whakairo (Māori carving).

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 70mm x 27mm x 13mm

The main purpose of this kete is to be a work basket, it is usually made from Harakeke (NZ Flax) of which the commencement is a 3ply braid at the bottom of the kete.

Material: Harakeke

Measurements: 300mm x 220mm x 85mm

The main purpose of this kete is to be a work basket, it is usually made from Harakeke (NZ Flax) of which the commencement is a 3ply braid at the bottom of the kete.

Material: Harakeke

Measurements: 405mm x 275mm x 95mm