Āhua Gallery

Coastal and river-based Māori tribes traditionally used a variety of fishhooks and lures. Hooks and lures varied in shape, material and design. Today hei matau (fishhooks) have become symbolic of traditional Māori technology and continue to symbolize a relationship to Tangaroa, God of the sea.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 62mm x 50mm

Coastal and river-based Māori tribes traditionally used a variety of fishhooks and lures. Hooks and lures varied in shape, material and design. Today hei matau (fishhooks) have become symbolic of traditional Māori technology and continue to symbolize a relationship to Tangaroa, God of the sea.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 58mm x 60mm

Coastal and river-based Māori tribes traditionally used a variety of fishhooks and lures. Hooks and lures varied in shape, material and design. Today hei matau (fishhooks) have become symbolic of traditional Māori technology and continue to symbolize a relationship to Tangaroa, God of the sea.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 70mm x 64mm

Tāniko weaving produces a relatively stiff and unyielding fabric, so it was traditionally used to embellish korowai cloaks and other items such as headbands, belts, and jewellery. Often several different strips of tāniko appeared on up to three sides of a korowai cloak.

The tāniko was inspired by the pōtae (hat) made of quality New Zealand wool and designed to accentuate it.

Artist meaning: Aramoana Tipare tāniko features the Aramoana (zigzag) pattern – Aramoana means ‘the pathway to the sea’ and represents many destinations by ocean and waterway. The pathway signifying growth and moving forward in life.

Material: Cotton, Elastic, Synthetic Wool

Circumference: 22 inches (56cm)

Whakakaipiko (Aupiko) forms were given as a symbol of endearment. Whakakaipiko are long and slender personal adornments characterised by a ‘piko’ or kink in the body of the pendant. Customarily they were used as a pin for fastening cloaks and may be made from bone, stone, wood or shell. Whakakaipiko are commonly worn as pendants.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 145mm x 14mm

Aurei 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. Aurei are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings and as with most Māori personal adornments, are often passed down generationally.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 85mm x 9mm x 8mm

Kete Kai is a food gathering basket that is typical used to house food from the ocean or the land. Kete kai was used for every type of food that was gathered. You were not allowed to mix land food kete with the ocean food kete as it was tapu. The pattern on this kete kai is taki tahi and the holes are called puareare.

Material: Harakeke

Measurements: 390mm x 280mm

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.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 107mm x 50mm x 15mm

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: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 39mm x 27mm x 9mm

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: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 53mm x 49mm x 11mm

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: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 58mm x 40mm x 11mm

The Pekapeka (native NZ bat) represents the interwoven nature of the spirit world and the world of the living – the seen and the unseen. The bat was interpreted by Māori as a creature who symbolically acted as an interface between the two worlds and whose physiology (which does not possess the gift of sight) appeared to be guided by the ethereal and the metaphysical.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 36mm x 55mm x 6mm