Āhua Gallery

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

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

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.

Māripi are a traditional meat cutting tool. They are fashioned with a wooden handle and sharks’ teeth carved from Kōiwi (beef bone) to create a serrated edge.

Material: Rātā, Kōiwi (Beef Bone) & Pāua (Abalone)

Measurements: 370mm x 60mm x 30mm

Māripi are a traditional meat cutting tool. They are fashioned with a wooden handle and sharks’ teeth carved from Kōiwi (beef bone) to create a serrated edge.

Material: Rātā, Kōiwi (Beef Bone) & Pāua (Abalone)

Measurements: 340mm x 100mm x 30mm

This manu (bird) form is a variation of the kapeu which are slender adornments with a slight bend at the bottom and were often worn as ear pendants. This kapeu has been fashioned from pounamu (New Zealand Jade). Kapeu were highly prized and a sign of high rank in Māori society. They are commonly also worn as neck pendants.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 120mm x 15mm x 8mm

This manu (bird) form is a variation of the kapeu which are slender adornments with a slight bend at the bottom and were often worn as ear pendants. This kapeu has been fashioned from pounamu (New Zealand Jade). Kapeu were highly prized and a sign of high rank in Māori society. They are commonly also worn as neck pendants.

Material: Pounamu (Tokatea)

Measurements: 133mm x 19mm

Māhē are sinker stones used to weigh down fishing nets.

Material: Otaua (Greywacke)

Measurements: 50mm x 37mm x 35mm

Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally.

Material: Onewa (Greywacke)

Measurements: 100mm x 19mm x 9mm

Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally. Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 90mm x 11mm

Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally. Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 80mm x 11mm

Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 140mm x 11mm